Saturday, April 23, 2016

Saturday, April 23, 2016

By Keesha Sullivan

        Many of us are going through incredible struggles right now in our lives. There is so much transition, decisions and pressure that we are encountering. Sometimes it feels absolutely overwhelming. It feels as though we can't even breathe under these burdens. In the reading for today, David presents us with hope. He too went through some of the most horrendous, difficult trials that a person could face. In the Scriptures from today, David told us the way to handle the circumstances of life was to take refuge in God. 

        The word refuge means "a condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, or trouble." In Psalm 91, David says, "[God] is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Surely he will save [us] from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence." According to the definition given on biblestudytools.com, a fowler was "a professional birdcatcher. In the days previous to firearms, birds were captured with nets spread on the ground, in traps and snares. This is David's promise that the Almighty will deliver us from the evil plans laid to ruin us, as a bird sometimes in its struggles slips the hair and escapes from the "snare" set for it."

David also talks about us escaping deadly pestilence. "Pestilence means a deadly and overwhelming, [often fatal] disease that affects an entire community." (dictionary.com).  David says that by placing our trust in God and running to him for refuge that God will protect us from this too. Matthew Henry comments: "He that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do so."

        God truly has everything we need. There is no burden or circumstance that is too big for our Almighty Father to handle. God takes the pressure, fear and anxiety that we feel and places it in on His shoulders so that our burden becomes light, bearable and conquerable. Nothing is impossible with God. 

        Heavenly Father, we thank You for being such a gracious, loving God. Thank You for being a refuge in times of trouble. Thank You for giving us everything that we need to be successful in life. Thank You for helping us to be more than conquerors! You are an amazing God! We love You, and we thank You again for never leaving us or forsaking us. In Jesus's name, we pray. Amen!