“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his hear to dull to hear”
(Isaiah 59:1)
A rope can serve many useful purposes. For instance, ropes are used to to tie up loose ends and hold bulky items together. Ropes can form a scaffold useful in building. Sometimes a rope can be thrown out for one at sea and used to pull such back to safety.
Once the Apostle Paul was caught up in a situation where he was being pursued for arrest due to his preaching. “In Damascus the Governor under King Aretas had the city of Damscenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in a wall and slipped through his hands” (2 Cor 2: 33-34). A rope had played a useful purpose.
Sometimes though we can be at the end of our ropes, where it is not the case of being thrown a rope to pull us back to safety. After King David’s son overthrew him forcing him out of the palace he was clearly driven to the end of his ropes, being thrown all types of abuses( 2 Sam 16:8). But at that desperate point in his life David decided to look to God and cry out: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe” ( Psalm 61:1-3).
At his lowest moment David did not loose all hope. He goes on to add, “Increase the days of the King’s life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him” ( verse 6-7). And finally David declares, “Then I will sing in praise of your name, and fulfill my vows day after day” (verse 8).
When we are at the end of our ropes, the example of David should surely inspire us. When all hope is lost let us look up to the Almighty God, to throw us a rope of His own to glide us back to the shores of life.
Prayer today : Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I find myself at the end of my ropes, I look up to you for that rope of life, for you are my eternal deliverer, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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02/05/2024 - 03/05/2024 All day“That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10)
We all crave to be blessed in life. But was there a believer who was so blessed beyond any circumstances without experiencing some sort of discomfort, in one way or another! A person may apparently be blessed in every single way yet have one troubling matter that constantly drives him down to his knees.
The one mightily blessed with riches may have a family situation that leaves him ever on edge. Someone who seems to be at the height of his profession may be living with an ailment that keeps him ever on tentacles. The one blessed with abundant health might from time to time be dealing with financial woes.
Why do such troubling situations plague even believers? One explanation could be found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Called into ministry and endowed with many gifts, including amazing revelations from above, yet he had a matter that constantly drove him on his knees. “Therefore in order to keep me from being conceited, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan, to torment me” (2 Cor 12: 7).
Paul would often cry out to God to free him of this particularly troubling matter. But the Lord came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor 12: 9).
The comfort of this lesson is that God is completely aware of whatever might be ever troubling us. Moreover, it could be purposely there, that we constantly place our faith in Him, other than relying on our strength and resources, especially as He blesses us in other uplifting ways.
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray that whatever matter is constantly troubling me, I know it is for a purpose and you are in total control, to bless me even more, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
