At any time in your life, or perhaps even now, could you place yourself in one of these categories?
Perhaps you’ve felt like a wanderer in the desert, miles and miles away from the tiniest glimpse of the promised land.
Or chained in captivity, like a prisoner. Addiction or shame is the iron shackled to your wrists and ankles.
Maybe you’ve battled illness or maybe you feel like a storm-tossed sailor, even though your feet stand on dry ground.
Let’s park our weary souls in Psalm 107 and soak in an ocean of grace.
The wanderer in the wilderness, hungry and thirsty, cries out in trouble…
“Lord, help!”
And he rescued them from their distress.
For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. (v. 4-9)
Friends, if you’re feeling hungry and thirsty for something deeper and bigger than food and drink, do you know where to go?
Jesus is living water and the bread of life.
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ~John 4:13-14
The captive sitting in darkness and deepest gloom, imprisoned in chains of misery, cries out in trouble…
“Lord, help!”
And he saved them from their distress.
He led them from the darkness and deepest gloom. He snapped their chains….He broke down their prison gates of bronze; he cut apart their bars of iron. (v. 10-16)
Friends, if you find yourself in bondage, yearning for freedom from a cycle of self-destruction, do you know where to go?
Jesus is our escape.
In my distress I prayed to the Lord and the Lord answered me and set me free. ~Psalm 118:5
The one afflicted with illness, knocking on death’s door, cries out in trouble…
“Lord, help!”
And he saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death. (v 18-22)
Friends, if you are sick and afflicted, desperate for new life, do you know where to go?
Jesus is resurrection and life.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” ~John 11:25
The one tossed about in the raging storms of life cries out in trouble…
“Lord, help!”
And he saved them from their distress.
He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves as he brought them safely into harbor. (v. 23-32)
Friends, if you are stuck in a storm too big to navigate through, do you know where to go?
Jesus is refuge and strength.
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. ~Isaiah 50:15
There is hope in Him.
He’s with you in the desert and He’s with you when you cross the Jordan.
He’s with you in captivity and He’s with you in freedom.
He’s with you in sickness and He’s with you in health.
He’s with you when the seas are raging and He’s with you when they are calm.
He is with you.
And there is hope.
Let’s Talk: Which of these four can you relate to the most?
Join me over at A Road to Here: Encouragement for Adoptive Moms as I talk about the concept of being blessed.
I’m thinking both wanderer and captive, maybe even a little storm-tossed. A lot of it has to do with my writing, but a lot of it, too, has to do with stuff I should probably talk to a therapist about. I’ve found one lady that I would like to see as a therapist – her firm is christian-based and that was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to see her – but unless I get another job that pays better than the one I have now, that probably won’t happen. But, I’m actually finding myself hoping that some way or other I’ll get to sign up for therapy, just because I have a lot of stuff weighing on me that I’d like to get perspective on. A lot of times, I can’t see my own life for the cloudiness of my mind.
Praying for you, Ren. That God would provide a way.
Bits and pieces of Wanderer and Storm-tossed right now, I think. But anchoring in Him. Great encouragement, Katie.
Thanks Julie!
Right now, life is pretty good. But I’ve been all of these before. I love how God continually tells us to hope in Him, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. It’s the anchor for our souls.
Amen, sister!
Storm-tossed. But I’m trusting He’s going to do some water-walking toward me, maybe point out the sunset and calm those crazy waves.
Love ya!
Love ya right back, Wendy-girl!
The desert most certainly. My husband and I wondered for five years and now it’s a struggle but I think we are finally coming through it. Would not have survived if not for Jesus and knowing He was with us all the way. I mean that.
So encouraged by your journey, Terri!