Justin Tucker, LHC Worship Pastor

Psalm 18:1-3

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.

If I know one thing

Our God is a deliverer

If I know one thing

Our God is gonna see us through  

Have you ever really thought about what it means to be delivered? Have you ever found yourself in one of those”no way out” or “lose/lose” situations? I know that I have. I also know that in those moments of desperation, I want to be rescued. Rescued from circumstances that are outside of my control or, more often, rescue from situations that I have created all on my own. Once we reach the ends of ourselves we either turn to, or return to, God and ask for a miracle. If you’re a child of God and that’s been you, I’ve got good news for you…our God is a deliverer! 

The Bible is full of times that God delivered his children for harm, from their circumstances, from their suffering…even certain death! Maybe you’ve heard the story of how God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, or how he sent an earthquake to break down the jail cell around Paul and Silas. What about the woman suffering from a blood condition simply touched Jesus’s robe and was instantly healed.

Sometimes those moments of deliverance are instant, sometimes they take time. My youth pastor growing up, Waller Boyer, used to always say, “If He’ll bring you to it, He’ll see you through it.” Sometimes those seasons of suffering take time, but take heart…He will see you through it!

If we just look at the Israelites as they escaped Egypt we can see numerous occasions where God stepped in and rescued His people. First, he delivered them from the bondage of slavery. Then He parts the Red Sea so they can escape Pharoah’s army bearing down on them. After that, he makes sure that no one goes hungry, their clothes and shoes never wear out, and He provides pillars of smoke and fire for them to follow. He never left them even when they lost their sense of gratitude. He never left them when they stopped being obedient and they started grumbling about how much better life was in Egypt. Even as they were being disciplined for 40 years in the desert, God never took His hand off of them. What a good and loving God we serve! Even in their/our defiance, He never stops taking care of us!

I’ve experienced God’s deliverance in my life many times. Whether it was facing financial hurdles, difficult relationships, or dreams that I felt had died, I’ve asked God to just show me one step at a time. There have been times when He has shown up and shown out in major ways  but most of the time I see his deliverance in the day-to-day. He’s opened my eyes to his faithfulness to walk with me step by step, showing me that sometimes his provision isn’t in the moment, but in the journey together.

Does it seem like you are wandering through the desert or locked in a cell of your own doubt and worry? Do fears or worries occupy live rent-free in your head and heart than you’d care to admit? Here’s one thing I know: Our God is still a deliverer. Our God is the same God who made a way through the sea and provided for the Israelites in the desert. You are never alone in your battle because He loves you. And you’re not alone in your desert because he loves you.1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “cast your cares on Him because He cares for You.’ His deliverance may not always be immediate or exactly like we hope it would be, but we can rest in the truth that His nature is the same. And He promises to always see us through.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Father, thank you for loving us and caring about us. Thank you for being the God that never leaves or forsakes His children. Thank you for stepping into my mess and walking with me each and every time that I fall. Thank you for saving us each and every day but most of all thank you for sending Jesus to save us for all eternity. Teach us to trust You and to cast our cares on You because You are faithful. In Jesus’ name, amen.