Calamities of Life...

How is your summer… peaceful, quiet, relaxing… hurried, busy, exhausting… or somewhere in between?  When I was still in school I loved summer, as I am sure most kids do! Not sure that my mom felt the same way though!?  I hear so many mothers anticipating the end of the school year and the beginning of summer so their routine can be more relaxed and how nice it will be to have their kids home. But long about mid-July, after the kids have been out of school for 5 or 6 weeks… relaxing has turned into boredom… quiet has turned into chaos… and peace has turned into squabbling!  And Mom just might be thinking school could not start soon enough!  Ready for a vacation from summer vacation!

If you read in Psalm 57, David is praying a prayer for deliverance from King Saul. The King is pursuing David to kill him… King Saul does not want David to become King.  I love in verse one where he is asking for mercy from God, “in the shadow of Your wings will I make my refuge until these calamities be passed.”

Calamities of life can be anything from problems with your children to loss of a job or even a loved one and anything in between. You can choose to run from things like this in your life but you will never be able to escape… you will always be looking behind to see if your past troubles are catching up to you.  If we don’t learn something from the calamities in life, we may be on the path to repeat them.

We have two choices when calamities come along… try and run from it and keep running until we are so tired we can’t run anymore… or run to the merciful arms of the God of the universe.  Cry out to Him! God knows everything that is happening in your life, but He still wants to hear His children call out to Him (v. 2).  Trust that He has called upon Heaven to do what is best for you.  He sends His mercy and truth to save you… He is your defender (v. 3).  Exalt God in your words… praising Him, calling Him by the names that speak of His greatness… He is bigger than any calamities of life (v. 4-5).  The “snags” of life will try to defeat you, but God is in control… He will turn things meant for harm into things for His glory (v. 6).  Others are watching to see how you will handle calamities in life… choose to praise God no matter the circumstance.  Your testing will become your testimony and will bring God all the glory (v. 7-11).

Don’t try to hide in a cave like David did… there is refreshing shade from the heat of life in the shadow of God’s wings.  Run to Him… Rest in Him… Be Refreshed by Him. 

Rejoicing in Truth!