Have you been here?
“The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.
The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” ~Psalm 18:4-6
Facing death? Drowning in fear? Swallowed up in the dark?
The Psalmist David draws such a vivid picture of his despair.
He also lets us know right away what his first response to this trial was – He called out to God, crying for deliverance.
So, how did God respond? I love these phrases! (Emphasis mine):
” Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness was under his feet.
And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: yea, he did fly upon the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.
At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire.
The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave his voice; hail stones and coals of fire.
Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them.
Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.” ~Psalm 18:7-15
Whew! When God is touched by the cries of His children, He doesn’t mess around! He MOVES on the behalf of His children.
And even though He has all of nature crashing about in His anger, His actions toward His child are just precious:
“He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.
They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.” ~Psalm 18:16-19
He draws us to Himself, above the battle’s fray. He delivers us. He holds us steady. He brings us to a safe place.
I don’t know what enemy you’re facing today. I have no idea how much pain you are in, or just what need you have; but I do know your God, if He is this God of the Bible.
He can deliver you. He can bring you into a place of peace. He will show you mercy as you walk in obedience to Him.
“Therefore hath the LORD recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.
With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;” ~Psalm 18:24-25
God will bring light into our darkness.
“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” ~Psalm 18:28
No matter your trial today, call out to Him. He will hear and will deliver. Then walk forward in obedience into the light of His presence.
In Him,
Alesha Kay
Obtaining Mercy 