We’ve been talking about how the fear of God empowers us to live a fearless life, and yesterday, we discussed forgoing our fear of man and living to please Him alone. Today, I want to look at something else that we tend to be afraid of, and that’s desperate circumstances. Many of us go to great lengths to avoid having to face the worst. We prudently invest money, have numerous backup plans, meticulously care for our health, and make every effort to think things through. Nevertheless, life happens, and the unexpected is sure to find us at some point. In fact, many of us have come face-to-face with unforeseen difficulties in the past six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For some, it’s brought a loss of health, and for others, it’s been the demise of a business that was a life-long dream or being laid off by a company after years of service. Maybe unemployment benefits have run out and you’re down to the end of your savings, or perhaps you can’t pay your bills. While these things are undeniably painful and scary, I want to reassure you that your desperation didn’t catch God by surprise. He hasn’t moved, and His Hand remains steady and outstretched in your most trying and vulnerable moments. Though the tendency is to freeze in fear when calamity strikes close to home, the best thing to do when it hits is to cry out to the Lord and welcome Him into the middle of your distress. He wants to help, and He can always make a way where there seems to be none.

My friend, your most desperate circumstances can be a doorway to the Lord’s presence and a canvas on which He paints His divine goodness in your midst. When the unexpected comes and you resist the urge to stay frozen in fear, He will meet you with the power of His Spirit and calm you with the wonders of His love. As you seek solace in Scripture and pursue His perfect peace through prayer and worship, He will comfort you, renew your mind, and illuminate the opportunity within your current obstacle. Tune your heart to hear His voice, elevate your perspective to see above the mountains, and praise Him as He lifts you out of the pit and sets your feet firmly upon the Rock of your salvation!