Trust in (insert here)

⁵ In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

-Ps. 118:5-8

I really loved Obinna's idea to start a blog and told him, "since I have a lot of free time I hope we can coordinate a way for us (me and him) to not post on the same day." Well, as you can tell, I have not posted yet...until now!

Going through the Anglican Daily Office for tonight, I read this psalm in its entirety, and this particular passage stuck out. I can most definitely associate with the beginning of the passage, for there have been many times I have cried out to the Lord in anguish, emotional, spiritual and physical. Each time, the Lord has delivered me or, "set me free" as the psalmist writes. When my parents decided to get a divorce, it was a very emotional affair for the whole family and each of us responded it differently: my mother cried all the time, especially when she thought my brothers and I could not hear, my dad began to spend less and less time at home, as did my youngest brother, the middle brother stayed in his room all the time, only coming out to eat and use the bathroom. I prayed. I prayed while driving. I prayed while crying. I prayed while studying. I prayed every time I thought of my family. One day, after class at the local community college, my heart was so burdened that I could do nothing but pray through my tears for the entirety of the 35 minute drive home. When I got home, I could not stop praying, and continued to do so as I walked through the living room and into the dining room, on my way to my room upstairs. With my cheeks still wet, I witnessed the faithfulness of God displayed through my parents hugging in the dining room for the first time in six weeks and my mom saying through her own tears, "I have missed you so much." My dad just stood there and held her. My tears were from joy at this point, and I could do little else but praise my God.

I had tried throughout the six weeks of my parents planning the divorce to reconcile my parents. I listened intently to both sides and tried to speak life and truth where the enemy had sown discord and death. I talked to my brothers about how we could help our parents salvage a marriage of over 20 years and they answered with cynicism and hopelessness. I racked my brain and prayed for God to give me wisdom, for I saw myself as the solitary means through which my family would stay together. You see, I had forgotten Who was with me, and where my refuge was, and it was not until I was broken to the point of utter abandonment of self that God moved in His power and glory.

Another story, if you will.

A dear friend confessed a couple of years ago to me that he had lived a life of sin during the summer between semesters at college. He seemed repentant at the time and truly appeared to want to serve the Lord. Slowly over the course of the next two years, he turned his back on God, his brothers in Christ, and everyone he had opened his heart to. He began to reap the bitter fruit of worldly sorrow. He was unfulfilled. His life was continually on a razor's edge; all it would take would be a breath to topple it. Yet God upheld him. Many of us prayed for him. He responded with anger and sarcasm and lies. I tried to lovingly confront him. He feigned confusion at my questions. I gave him scriptures to ponder, words of wisdom to digest, and living water to drink. He treated all those as though I was offering him rotting garbage. So, with great sadness, I let my efforts fall to the ground and die, wondering who and what he would be in five or ten years. I did not like what I saw in my mind's eye, but I continued to hope in the Lord.

Last night, through a (seemingly) random series of events, he contacted me and a conversation ensued. He wanted sympathy and pity and a measure of love. Love he got. Heavily seasoned with fire and Truth. After the longest conversation I have had all week with someone outside of flight school, God's light appeared in his heart, and he agreed to meet with a pastor immediately. He was set free and God restored a most precious son. Once again tears of joy flowed unashamedly down my cheeks.

As I reflect on both situations, and many more, I cannot help but see the common thread: when my trust is in myself, little or nothing results. When I come to the end of myself, to the blessed realization that the Lord is with me and is my refuge, then and only then does the incarnate power of the Risen Lord rise like the dawn! I encourage each of you today to remember the many ways your God has heard your anguished cries and delivered you. Don't trust in yourself to fix things. Don't trust your friends, dear and godly though they may be. Don't trust fate, or whatever extra-biblical force you may ascribe to. Trust the King of Glory, the Lion of Judah, the Holy of Holies, the Ancient of Days, Emmanuel.

Feel free to post your stories of His deliverance for the encouragement of all!