Written many years ago:

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone.”  Psalm 62:4

Anxiety, tension and pressure. These are reality in a fallen world, as seen in this picture, and this week they were very real for me as wave after wave of difficulty rolled over us: broken schedules, dashed hopes, tension-filled relationships, hampering sickness, unreasonable demands of others (at least from my perspective), mistakes, disaster looming in a couple of areas, conflicts of value, and potentially dangerous exposure to the authorities. It was enough to make a strong man cringe, and that I am not very strong.

But our Father is faithful. In each case, He led me to Scripture which gave perspective: John 8:32, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free….” And Isaiah 30:15-16, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it. You said, “No, we will flee on horses.” Therefore you will flee!’”

It is very easy, when under pressure, to flee on the horses of our own wisdom, of man’s help, of our own feeble efforts. But real help and strength come from spending time with our Father, telling Him of our needs and repeating Truth to ourselves.

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps 91:1). The Hebrew word for “Almighty” means the one who satisfies and the one who fights for us. We can rest in the midst of anxiety, tension, uncertainty and pressure if our trust is in the Almighty One who has unlimited power, unlimited knowledge as well as unlimited wisdom--and has promised to fight for us.

Our part is to pour out our hearts to Him and to look to His Word, meditating on passages that tell us what ultimate reality is. This allows Him to strengthen us while He works on the problems before us.

It’s been a profitable week from the standpoint of spiritual growth! We are happy to be here in the Lord’s “precious cooker” and to serve Him.

Prayer: “Lord, as difficulties come today, help me to flee to you in prayer and thanksgiving, to think your truth and to be set free from the worry and stress of this world. Amen.”