1. Deliverance

[Krissi]

Quite recently, my family survived a situation very similar to what the psalmist describes -- false accusations, legal battles, etc. Although, in the end, we were completely victorious, the experience was harrowing and, frankly, I'm still not over it. The stress was intense. I vomited constantly and after a couple months had to have my gall bladder removed. I tried to give it to Him in faith, but fear kept returning. I couldn't even sleep. And yet ... yet ... I was drawn much closer to Him even though I doubted He would vindicate me. When the persecution was most intense, it was also most difficult to give the situation over to God, particularly when circumstances seemed dire. Why God delayed and allowed me to suffer so much, I'll never know. 

Gross injustices are to be expected in the Christian life. We seem to think, or at least I did, that God should swoop down and carry us off on eagle wings whenever injustices occur, that our vindication should be here, on earth, right now. But many Christians in the past have died waiting to be rescued on earth. Their vindication was in the next life. 

I clung to this psalm during our time of persecution. In my distress, I cried out to Him, YOU WILL ANSWER ME. But, though He answered, I couldn't hear Him at the time. His words were muted and His presence unnoticed. I was unable to give Him my "stress points." So yes, He answers, but we may not even be aware of His answer when we most need His comfort.

A Christian cannot be safe in this world, mostly because God does not reliably intervene to protect us. Some get rescued -- others die a martyrs death. Furthermore, He lets us suffer. In fact, it is His will for us to suffer otherwise He would stop it. He grows us through suffering -- our character improves. The bottom line is we can't trust God to rescue us, though He does answer our prayers. We can't be certain of justice or vindication in this life. And so, the stress never leaves. The stress isn't so much what will happen in this life, but over our uncertainty that God will intervene, rescue, exact justice, vindicate, comfort and make His power known on our behalf. He may ... He may not. We cannot know His ways or cajole Him into acting on our behalf. We can "pray back" the psalms, but ultimately, He chooses to answer our prayers in His mysterious, stress-inducing way.

Stress is caused when I trust in His power but not His love. I pray to know Him as love. To trust Him to be kind, good and loving toward me, to answer my prayers and save me, IN THIS LIFE.