Living His Word

Psalm 94:18-19 ERV: I know I was ready to fall, but, LORD, your faithful love supported me. I was very worried and upset, but you comforted me and made me happy!

On the one hand, there are the ordinary and mundane trials, troubles, and tribulations of life and, on the other hand, there are the trials, troubles, and tribulations of life that take us to the very brink. Like the psalmist, many of us may have come to that point. Many of us may have come to the edge of the precipice and were about to fall. It wasn’t anything that we could manage or bear on our own. It had suddenly turned into a life or death situation.

The trouble rose up so quickly against us that we didn’t even have a chance to call out to God. Like someone who has tripped and was about to fall, we did not anticipate it and were not prepared for it. Nevertheless, the LORD stepped in before anything really bad could happen. We had surrendered to the inevitable, but the LORD kept that from happening. We were not aware of it, but His hand had been supporting us all along. His love stopped the fall that was about to smash us to pieces.

The trouble rose up so quickly that we didn’t even have the chance to get control of ourselves. We know we shouldn’t be worried and upset. We know we should trust God. But things happened so quickly that we had no opportunity to settle down. Fear and worry took control and in a flash our imaginations pictured every dire possibility that could have happened. Although it didn’t last long, the whole experience was one of complete torment.

The LORD, however, stopped the disaster in its tracks. As quickly as it rose up, He stepped in and prevented it from happening. He had been ready for it all along. We were swept away by torment and terror, but He quickly comforted and consoled us. He made us happy. He made us happy that we are His people. The LORD cares for us and loves us. He is ready to help us when we need Him. He can step in and help us even before we have a chance to ask Him for help.

Like a friend that reaches out to keep us from falling, He doesn’t always have to be asked first.