“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will also help you, I will also uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NASB)
It was halftime at a community league basketball game. The home team was behind by fourteen points, largely because they were not running the plays they had practiced and never seized the momentum. The team’s defense was, let me say it the best way I can, “pathetic,” playing as if they had weighted down shoes. In the locker room, instead of trying to reenergize his team and revive their effort to render a reasonable level of competitiveness or reach victory, the coached just stared down each member of the team as they sat, slumped down in the locker room chairs with their heads buried in a well of disappointment. The was silent for a moment, but suddenly he spoke loudly, at a volume level that I’m sure could be heard in the nearby visitor’s locker room, “I’ve had enough tonight! You guys are on your own! You figure it out!”
After what I would refer to as an emotional outburst, the coach left the locker room, got in his car and went home. Long story short, the home team was in disarray, disorganized, and when the final buzzer went off, they were defeated. If I were a member of that team I would be so discouraged.
Well, I definitely didn’t write you this morning to discourage you or bring you down. No! My purpose for writing you is just the opposite. I want to encourage you and lift you up, regardless of what you are going through. Think of the Lord as your coach today. He is not like the coach with the community league team I described above. The verse above is true. The Lord, He will be with you through your trials and troubles. The Lord, He will embolden you and remind you to not fear what you are facing, for He is the Lord. The Lord, He will strengthen you and He will help you have victory over any fate, anything predicament you are facing, and any feeling of defeat. The Lord, He will bring you back up. Just listen to Him! The Lord, He will give you victory in time, even though sometimes you will feel like you are in overtime and your struggle or battle is taking too long! Don’t give up! The Lord, whether you realize it or not, is still upholding you until you get through this time you are facing. Listen, as long as you are on this earth, there are three things you can count on my fellow believer: (1) The Lord has left you here for a purpose. (2) The Lord will be with you through it all; through every situation, through every struggle, and through every suffering moment. (3) You shall overcome! Rejoice, my friend! God is not done with you yet!
If you think this meditation was specifically for you, let me put an end to your wondering or speculation. Yes! It was just for you.
Let me encourage you further with the words below, taken from a familiar church song. The author is unknown, but the reality in the words is known to be true. Take my word for it! Be blessed!
“I’ve seen the lightening flashing and heard the thunder roll! “I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, trying to conquer my soul; I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, He bid me still to fight on. He promised never to leave me, never to leave me alone!”
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King