Day 18

The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior.

—2 SAMUEL 22:2-3

So much of the confusion, chaos, and pain in our lives finds its origin in one thing: we doubt.

We are meant to live in the light of God’s Truth (His promises to us) both when we can see them playing out AND when we see no evidence of them at all. But we are so easily discouraged, aren’t we? Many of us live our lives uncertain and afraid, being tossed around by the ever-changing winds of our emotions and circumstances.

Though I didn’t know it then, one of the reasons God took me into the wilderness was to ask me this question: Will your beliefs flee when the onslaught of doubt comes against them? Will you forget My promises when you are wandering in the dark?

Looking back over that decade, I can see that though my faith in God’s existence didn’t waver, I forgot almost everything He had ever said to me. I never doubted that He could save me, I just doubted that He wanted to. And so, doubting and forgetting, I resigned myself to an ineffective half life, not looking for, waiting for, or longing for, His promised deliverance in my life.

“The nature of the enemy’s warfare in your life is to cause you to become discouraged and to cast away your confidence. Not that you would necessarily discard your salvation, but you could give up your hope of God’s deliverance. The enemy wants to numb you into a coping kind of Christianity that has given up hope of seeing God’s resurrection power.”

—Bob Sorge

We must never give up hope of God’s deliverance. He can make the dead places inside of you alive again; He can make water spring up in the driest land. He not only CAN save you from this dry place you’ve been wandering, He WANTS to.

P R A Y E R : God, forgive me today for living as though I’ve forgotten your power. Forgive me for living in forgetfulness of just exactly Who it is that I serve. Help me to remember today, and in the days to come, that that you are almighty AND that you care for me.

He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.

He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.

He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.

....And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

—JOB 26:7-14

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

—1 PETER 5:7