PSALM 94:17-19: “Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
NLT
OBSERVATION: Do you ever have doubts? Has your mind ever been flooded with anxiety? How can we face such uncertain times without losing it and simply falling apart?
I just finished watching Day 2 of the Presidential Briefing as we enter into a new 30 days of mitigation to fight the corona-virus. Like many, I hoped that Monday would bring some good news regarding this invisible enemy. Yet, over the weekend it became clear that things would get worse before they would get better. As a result, the 15 days of shelter-in-place have been extended to include a new 30 day order to shelter-in-place.
The startling news reported was the number of deaths that we could see in the next two weeks. The estimates, with the nation abiding by the new 30 day call to shelter-in-place, is between 100 – 240 thousand deaths, in the United States. This is unprecedented in my lifetime. Our nation has not seen projections of this magnitude since World War II. As we consider this, it is easy to become doubtful of one’s future and succumb to anxiety. Is there hope?
It is as if the Psalmist wrote these words for today, March 31, 2020.
- “Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
I don’t know how anyone without the Lord Jesus Christ, and without the hope of eternal life, can navigate through these difficult times. The words – “Unless the Lord had helped me…”, ring out like a bugle call to my heart. And, they summon me to begin to pray for a mighty revival in my heart, in my family, and in our land. If there was ever a time when people needed to understand and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ it is now!
Recently, I shared a post on Facebook encouraging everyone to remember that the Lord was still on the throne. One of my dear friends from high school sent a reply and asked me – “Why is God doing this?” We have had previous discussions and I do not believe that he has embraced Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. I assured him that Jesus was not the author of sin, sickness, and death, and pointed him to Jesus sacrificial death on the cross to defeat both sin and death. I did not receive a reply.
I have also seen old friends posting heart wrenching stories about the suffering of loved ones who fell victim to this dreadful virus. Yet, these were shared with such desperation and without a sense of hope. How I want to shout from the rooftops so that everyone can hear and know –
“Unless the Lord helped me…”
Unless the Lord helped me, I would still be lost in my sin. Unless the Lord helped me, my life would be filled with doubt and fear. Unless the Lord helped me, the news would drive me into a panicked state of hopelessness. Unless the Lord helped me, I would have hope only for this life and the grave would be my end.
Yet, because the Lord helped me, because His unfailing love supported me, because He comforted me and gave me renewed hope and cheer – I can face tomorrow with confidence. For by God’s great gift of grace through faith – to live is Christ and to die is gain! His hand upholds and guides me both in this life and the life to come. And, He calls for all men and women to find this great and free gift!
- “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 NLT
Dear friend – God wants you to be saved. Dear doubter – God wants to give you faith! Dear anxious one – God wants to give you peace. Dear fearful of death – God wants to give you the hope of eternal life. God loves you so much. All you have to do is surrender your life to Him and trust Him as your Savior and Lord!
- “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NLT
Pray this prayer – “Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. My heart has been filled with unbelief, doubt, and fear. Jesus, come into my heart and rescue me. Forgive me of my sin. Let me experience Your unfailing love. Be my Savior and my Lord. Fill me with Your life and Your peace. Give me the hope of eternal life so that I can face tomorrow with confidence. I surrender my life to you!”
In Jesus Name! Amen!!
If you prayed this prayer for the first time, please send me an email at – klzehnder@aol.com. I would love to send you some material for your new walk in Jesus Christ!
