Relieve, restitution, ready, reason, rescue, retreat, restore
You would be amazed to know how many words start with “re”. Lots and lots. I am so ready for my next game of “Words With Friends.” Today I’m picking “rescue” because sometimes I need rescuing.
I am a Christian, a Christian who has been rescued more times than I deserve. God is like that.
God rescues us even when we’ve done everything wrong. Even when we don’t deserve it.
He rescued the Israelites time and again even though they broke every commandment. More than once, I might add.
As I mature in my faith, I know what God expects of me. The particulars aren’t always crystal clear but the underlying truths are very clear.
And God also intends for me to come to my own rescue as well. God expects that as I grow in my faith, I take on more responsibility for my own life.
For example, Proverbs has a lot to say about laziness. While this verse refers to physical laziness, I think we can generalize it to other areas as well. That means if my mood is starting to drop, I know I need to move and get distracted. Being a couch potato doesn’t help. Sometimes taking a day off and doing nothing works but only if it’s a decision I’ve made proactively and not just my mood calling the shots.
But sometimes I did all the right things I knew to do, and depression still made its presence known. This was when God stepped in and rescued. He parted the waters for me in a myriad of ways.
- Sometimes it was through a phone call.
- Sometimes it was an errand for my mom that got me out of the house.
- Sometimes it was someone who needed me.
- Sometimes God rescued through the reading of His word. I would have the uncanny feeling that God was speaking to me personally through the scriptures.
Sometimes the rescue was really extraordinary like in this example.
About sixteen years ago, (which was a period when depression really had a stronghold on me) I came home to find a message on our house phone.
I pressed the play button. The voice I heard was unfamiliar. I didn’t have a clue who it was but she was praying for me. She prayed for about a minute or two and I can still remember the chill I felt. The prayer she prayed was uncanny. It was as if she knew everything about me and particularly the bad day I was having. Another “God rescue”. I’ve never forgotten it.
God knows when we’ve lost our way. He knows when we’ve run out of options. He knows when the timing is right for our rescue. (God’s timing is a whole ‘nother subject. )
So today I’m really thankful to know I love a God who rescues me when He knows I need rescuing.
God bless and I hope you have a good day.
