Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. —Psalm 118:5-8
A God That Responds
Many times, when hardships come our way, we need someone stronger to intervene for us. Where do we go when in distress? The psalmist cried out to God and He answered! We have no strength within ourselves, so we call upon our Lord. Charles Spurgeon said,
Prayers which come out of distress generally come out of the heart, and therefore they go to the heart of God. It is sweet to recollect our prayers, and often profitable to tell others of them after they are heard. Prayer may be bitter in the offering, but it will be sweet in the answering. The man of God had called upon the Lord when he was not in distress, and therefore he found it natural and easy to call upon him when he was in distress. He worshipped, he praised, he prayed: for all this is included in calling upon God, even when he was in a straitened condition.
God is always attentive and active on behalf of His children even though we are so undeserving. “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”
A God That Protects
God serves and protects us so that we may carry out His desires. We may suffer at times, but we should not fear. Man can do no more to us than what our God permits. How can we be afraid of man when we have such an almighty God. Recently I was able to send some funds to a friend in India to help his family buy food during the Covid shutdown. While buying for his own family he was burdened to help another family nearby, that was in greater need, with half of the funds. God not only supplied his family’s needs but the needs of those around him. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
A God That Helps
Man’s desire is to always secure great allies in any conflict that may arise. Without God, our allies will fail, and only God can strengthen those who help us. And for those who hate us, they shall flee before our God. Christ triumphed over all on the cross. “The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”
A God That Shelters
God has opened His home to us. Man will always fail us, but God will always follow through on His Word. God does far more than we ask or even think. At Calvary, Christ was not a victim but a victor over Satan and sin, therefore he is our refuge. “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
For Reflection
What do you see about God in the midst of hardship?
Have you suffered for the Lord without fear?
Have you taken refuge in the Lord?
Have you blessed someone recently?