July 08, 2011

Under His Wings

There are millions effected by the economy, struggling without jobs, worrying how they will provide for their families. Why should I be any different? Why should God bother to help me? 

I asked this question once before, during another financial crises.  After eighteen years with one company, my late husband was laid off when the timber industry in the Northwest collapsed.  His only hope of employment was to train in a new field. Nearing fifty, this was not going to be easy, and in spite of the anti-discrimination laws, an older worker faced more challenges.

I fretted and worried, much like I am doing now, and the question why should God bother with us turned in a turbulent spiral around and around in my thoughts, like buzzards waiting for their opportunity to descend and feed. I sought distraction, mainly through reading. The book of choice at that moment was Fried Green Tomatoes by Fanny Flagg. About the middle of the story, one character tells another to read Psalm 91 everyday.

I was not familiar with the Psalm and went immediately to my bible. I was stunned. The beautiful words were exactly what I needed, especially verse 7:  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. And verse 10: There shall no evil come to thee: nor shall the scourge come near thy dwelling.

And, it didn't. When my husband could not find employment with another company, we opened our own business. Things were tight at times, but we maintained our home, raised our children and upheld our financial responsibilities - God provided.

Now, once again I am thrown into a financial fire storm, and the same questions beat against my sense of worth and peace. Again, God sends His messages of hope and encouragement.  My readings at the beginning of the week included Psalm 91, with an emphasis on verse four: He will overshadow thee with his shoulders: and under his wings thou shalt trust. Streams in the Desert had this: O you of little faith, God has not failed you yet!

This morning my readings included Psalm 37: 3-4,18-19,39-40.  Trust in the Lord and do good, and dwell in the land and thou will be fed with its riches. Delight in the lord, and he will give thee the requests of thy heart. The Lord knoweth the days of the undefiled; and their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be confounded in the evil time; and in the days of famine they shall be filled. But the salvation of the just is from the Lord, and he is their protector in the time of trouble. And the Lord will help them and deliver them: and he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them, because they have hoped in him.

Isaiah 40:31 is also among my morning devotions: But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

I still I squirm and fret in spite of my best intentions, letting go only when I don't have the strength to worry. When I finally concede and stand still, God pulls me unscathed from the fire. It will be the same this time.

And yet, it is hard to ignore the fire when all you see are flames. Perhaps I should close my eyes, or look away and search for something else to focus on. I may be feeling some heat, but the fire has not consumed me, and the temperature is much cooler underneath His wings - as long as I stay in His shadow (trust) and not run in panic right into the fire.

15 comments:

  1. Wow. I was listening to a sermon on tape this morning, and the pastor also recommended Psalm 37 and Psalm 91. How encouraging to find those same recommendations here as well.

    I'm going through a very tough time, but I haven't been listening to God. He finally drilled it into my head that I only need to trust Him more. He's been telling me that fear is not trust, and it is not faith. Without trust and faith, it is impossible to please Him.

    I read on an Internet site: "Tell fear and doubt to leave you in the Name of Jesus. Tell Satan to leave you alone in the Name of Jesus, and they will have to obey."

    "Commit your way to the LORD; trust also in him; and He shall bring it to pass." ~Psalm 37:5. There's an order to things. #1: Commit to God. #2: TRUST in Him, and then, only then, He will bring it to pass. You can't reverse the order, get what you want/need, then decide to trust Him.

    Hang in there, Cecilia. Have faith. God wants good gifts for His children.

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  2. Wow, Lorna. It seems God is using us both to confirm His messages to us. I lift you in prayer as well for the resolution to your own crises. And you are so right, fear and anxiety are not trust or faith. It is through these trials we are to be His witnesses. We must be like the three young men in the fire, and praise God when all we can see are flames. But, it is hard at times, isn't it? Thank goodness He knows our weaknesses and sends messages like these to strengthen us.

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  3. Ceci and Lorna, whenever I notice those darts of the enemy being hurled at me, I use Elvis. LOL Yup. I use his words..."Return to sender! Address unknown!" Try it!

    We forget that the Lord sometimes has many *chores* to accomplish before bringing the necessary answer. Stones rolled out of the way, water to hold back, debris to burn. And waiting for Him to do all that can be very frustrating. But we need to remember that He has not left us; He IS at work! (Talking to myself as well!)

    I so rely on my life's verse: "Did I not tell you and promise you that if you would believe and rely on Me, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 Amp)

    Believe and trust...that's all He asks! Praying for you both!

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  4. Thank you, Lynn. You always offer the best encouragement. I love your scriptural quote and Elvis! That is a clever way to tell Satan to go away and leave me alone! Love it.

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  5. Readers in similar circumstances will be helped by this post. I must share this with you -- my friend sent me Psalm 91:7 in a text this week. I also started a Bible study on Psalm 91 earlier this week. And Psam 37:4 is my life verse. More confirmation from God's word. :) Thank you for this encouraging post.

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  6. Wow, Judith. Those two scriptures have special meaning for me to. Both have come to me during other trials. Thank you for sharing these. I needed the confirmation as well. God bless you!

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  7. Such a beautiful reminder. I needed to see this. I've been home a total of six non-consecutive weeks this year since my mother has been so ill. My stepson's death at the end of May has taken its toll on all of us. My efforts with my fledgling business are thwarted by so many crises. And my God has been with me through it all. I just needed to be reminded.

    Thanks.

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  8. God surely directed me over to your blog......Your words are so encouraging...Even though we know God is with us and promises to care for us, sometimes we just need reminding.....Thank you for being willing to be open and to share your trail with us......

    I pray you will know His peace through your circumstances.......

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  9. Linda, I know you have had a rough time of late, and it has dampened the excitement over your book's debut. I pray your mother continues to improve and your book sells faster than it can be printed. Isn't it amazing how God uses different messengers to reach us when we need to hear the message the most. God Bless you, your family and your publishing career.

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  10. Nancy, I am very pleased you received the the encouragement you needed to hear. Sounds like a lot of us need the same encouragement. Trials and crises are certainly universal. May God bless you through whatever challenge or challenges you are facing.

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  11. Thank you...I needed this this morning as my 57 year old husband also seeks some regular work. He has been on commission for 3 years as we keep having financial struggles and it is so true how the enemy comes in and causes the battle in our mind.

    Just yesterday I cried out the the Lord..."do you know how old he is? No one hires at this age!" Then I remember God is not concerned with age...he used Moses and others in their old age and He will do the same for us.

    He has been faithful in all things...He knows we still have a 15 and 5 year old....they were given to us by Him and He will provide.

    Blessings on your job search...I will continue to lift you in my prayers as I also meditate on the Psalms.

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  12. Janette, as you know, I relate. It is a tough situation. God will provide. Yet, He doesn't always do so in ways we expect - or necessarily want, and some times His delays are hard to accept with patience and trust. However, sometimes He does the spectacular. In an older post, I describe one of these occasions during the same time when my husband was out of work. Our insurance was due, and we just didn't have the money. God provided in an amazing way, and it changed my life and my relationship with Him: Lilies:

    http://outoftheclosetintothelight.blogspot.com/2011/02/lilies.html

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  13. Hmm, my link didn't come through. It is in my February post for this year, entitled,Lilies if you want to read it. I promise, the verse from Luke 12:27 will have special meaning, and lilies will for every symbolize His compassion and miracles. God bless you and your family with a steady paycheck and all the other necessities our life here on earth demands.

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  14. Beautiful devotional, Cecilia. We all need to be reminded that nothing -- and no one -- else can bring comfort like the One who breathed life into our beings. Thank you for sharing.

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  15. Thank you, Jolina for stopping in and commenting. Yes, we need to stay focused on Him rather than our problems.

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