The LORD answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you!
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion!
It snowed about a foot in the few hours we were in that little country church giving a concert. I sang lead in a gospel quartet when I was in my early twenties. Our concert was in a small, rural Mennonite Church miles away from the nearest town. In fact, it was miles away from anywhere and anyone. It was only about 30 miles from the city but it might as well have been hundreds because it was too far to walk in a freezing, blinding snow storm.
We were in trouble. As we left the church, the van we were driving got stuck in the snow, in the middle of a country mile section a few miles away. It was obvious no vehicle had driven that road in the fresh fallen snow. It was about 9:00PM and it was so dark, all we could see was the swirling, blowing snow. Talk about unprepared, we had no blankets and no heavy winter coats.
Prayer was our only hope. We prayed as we sat there in the van letting the engine run to keep the heat on, but we knew that couldn’t last for long or we’d run out of gas. It was finally decided someone had to walk to look for help, in hope of finding a nearby farmhouse. The Baritone and I were the youngest, so we volunteered.
We set out walking with nothing to focus on; it was a blizzard all around, and we weren’t dressed for the conditions. We knew if we found help, it would be sent from God. Trusting Him to guide us in the right direction was the only way; anything but the shortest distance to help and we would freeze to death.
Psalm 20 can be read as a prayer of blessing over those who are in trouble, over those who need rescued. As you read through it, notice the confident, joyful tone of the prayer. The Psalmist doesn’t just hope God will help him, he knows He will:
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the LORD will help his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories by his right hand. (Ps. 20:4-6)
What troubles you today? Do you have confidence in the Lord to see you through it? Call on His name and in His time, He will send you help from His sanctuary (v. 2). We walked as far as thought we could that night, and just as we felt like giving up we saw a light on the horizon. We didn’t know how far away it was, but we knew it meant help so we kept going.
The Lord sent His help. That light was just what we needed to keep us going. Look hard on the horizon of your life, and you will see His light. He will send help from His holy heaven.
Shalom,
Pastor Brad
image credit: http://wetravelandblog.com/2014/where-in-the-world/united-states/yellowstone-united-states/caught-in-a-snow-storm/