February 12, 2023 7:00 pm
Many years ago, a friend told me how intimidated she was while trying to cross a street where several roads intersected. “I’d never seen anything like this; the rules I’d been taught for crossing the street seemed ineffective. I was so frightened that I’d stand on the corner, wait for the bus, and ask the bus driver if he’d please allow me to ride to the other side of the street. It would take a long time before I successfully learned to navigate this intersection both as a pedestrian and later as a driver.”
As complicated as a dangerous traffic intersection can be, navigating life’s complexities can be even more menacing. Although the psalmist’s specific situation in Psalm 118 is uncertain, we know it was difficult and just right for prayer: “When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord” (v. 5), the psalmist exclaimed. And his confidence in God was unmistakable: “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. . . . The Lord is with me; he is my helper” (vv. 6–7).
It’s not unusual to be fearful when we need to change jobs or schools or housing. Anxieties arise when health declines, relationships change, or dollars disappear. But these challenges needn’t be interpreted as abandonment by God. When hard pressed, may we find ourselves prayerfully pressing into His presence.
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Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.
The devotional for today was written by Arthur Jackson, and he titled it, When Hard Pressed. Many years ago, a friend told me how intimidated she was while trying to cross a street where several roads intersected. I'd never seen anything like this. The rules I'd been taught for crossing the street seemed ineffective. I was so frightened that I'd stand on the corner, wait for the bus, and ask the bus driver if he'd please allow me to ride to the other side of the street. It would take a long time before I successfully learned to navigate this intersection, both as a pedestrian and later as a driver.
As complicated as a dangerous traffic intersection can be, navigating life's complexities can be even more menacing. Although the psalmist's specific situation in Psalm 118 is uncertain, we know it was difficult and just right for prayer. When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord, the psalmist exclaimed, and his confidence in God was unmistakable. The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid. The Lord is with me.
He is my helper. It's not unusual to be fearful when we need to change jobs or schools or housing. Anxieties arise when health declines, relationships change, or dollars disappear. But these challenges need not be interpreted as abandonment by God. When hard pressed, may we find ourselves prayerfully pressing into his presence. Now let's hear some hope from the Bible.
Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Psalm 118 verses 5 through 14. When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord. He brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me.
He is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns. In the name of the Lord I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense. He has become my salvation. Would you pray with me? Gracious Father, would you please help us to trust in you when we feel hard pressed? In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Thanks for listening today. My name is Wes Ward, and today's encouragement was provided by Our Daily Brad Ministries.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-02-20 09:35:58 / 2023-02-20 09:37:25 / 1
