I’m certainly afflicted. It’s been hard. In Psalm 34:19 it states that many are the afflictions of the righteous. In Psalm 66:10-12 it states that You (God) have tested, refined and afflicted. Both verses do not end there. They both say BUT (and oh how I love the “buts” in scripture… oh how I NEED the “buts” in scripture).
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:19 NKJV
You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment. Psalm 66:12 NKJV
Both verses give me promise and hope, that IN the affliction, God has a work. He delivers. He brings out. He may not end the affliction, but even in the affliction there is a rescue, a deliverance, a hand of mercy and love reaching for us, snatching us out of the fire, pulling us up from the overflowing waters, helping us. The same word used for rich, “You brought us out to rich fulfillment” is also used in Psalm 23:5 “You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.” This is absolutely GLORIOUS! Yes, yes and AMEN!
I have to wonder though, what ushers in the deliverance? Is it trust? It is hope? Is it surrender? I myself have experienced both sides of the coin. I can look to my circumstances and they overwhelm me. I think on them, allowing them to bring fear, worry, doubt, confusion and everything contrary to deliverance. I am not delivered. Then, there are times when I surrender my will to the Father’s, I call out to Him, I press in, clinging to HIM, and He does this most glorious and beautiful work of deliverance that I’m trying so desperately to put words to, but finding it hard to describe. This is a deliverance that while I am inadequate to describe it, I KNOW WITH CERTAINTY that God has done it. My circumstances remain, but I AM DELIVERED! I am pulled out and rescued. THIS deliverance comes to me every single time I ask for it. HE does it. It’s not dependent on me, except I can fail to ask for it, or fail to accept it. I can utterly and completely fail to run to the One who graciously and abundantly gives it. But when I DO run to Jesus, I’m comforted, helped, rescued, reassured, calmed, quieted, loved, peaceful, hopeful, and full of praise and thanksgiving to a God who GIVES TO ME so freely, richly and full of grace that my cup overflows.
