Stand

We're doing a series of sermons right now at my church about being up against the wall. I don't feel it's an accident that I just wrote about that! So my ramblings about "the wall" continue". If you've ever been against one, you know exactly what I'm talking about!

The wall can look different for every person: addictions, loved ones being addicted, sickness, emotional or mental illness, financial hardship, relationships, children who make unwise decisions, difficult marriage....the list goes on and on.

As I listened to the sermon yesterday, I sat with my nose pressed against my own wall. Never since Michael was born have I fought hopelessness and helplessness regarding his well being and especially his future like I'm fighting it now.

For a couple of weeks I've been thinking on this passage about Eleazar, one of David's "mighty men":

"Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day."
2 Samuel 23:9-10

The phrase that keeps running through my mind is: "The Lord brought about a great victory that day."

Eleazar stood when others retreated, he was tired and his hand literally froze to his sword. But it was the Lord who brought the victory. It wasn't Eleazar's willpower or physical strength or genius warfare tactics or flawless decisions in the battle that made the difference that day.

For me this is encouraging. I too often think that the solutions I come up with will make the difference. I even look back and wonder what decisions I could have made differently that would have made the difference.

The truth is that we have a Savior who rescues us. He simply rescues us. He rescues when others have pushed us against a wall, when sickness or circumstances beyond our control have driven us there. He rescues even if we've done it all wrong, even if the wall we're against is of our own making!

When our strength is gone we can call out to Him and look to Him for widom and guidance and answers and even miracles!

I hope this is encouraging for you today if your nose is pressed again a wall. For some reason it must bring God glory for me to understand and live in this place. I can tell you with all confidence that God is faithful, He does bring victory.

But you may have to stand when others retreat and you may get tired and to the end of your strength and it may feel like you've got a sword frozen to your hand as you stand! And you just may have to cling to the hope that He is at work in ways you cannot see or imagine when all seems lost!

God is faithful.

May you have courage as you choose hope today!

Angela