If We But Ask

My God in His loving kindness will meet me; God will let me look triumphantly upon my foes. Psalm 59:10　(New American Standard Bible)

When emotions take a nose dive and our faith takes a blow, it seems that our quickest response is a desire for release and a helping hand out of the proverbial pit. Our prayers become pleas for a return to stronger moments. I have a number of “life preservers” that I attempt to grab hold of when storms come my way on the sea of life. A phone call to a trusted friend, a truth filled book, soul enriching music, solitude, Bible reading, or extra rest seem to be my first options for a return to spiritual strength and fortitude. They use to work so well…so why not recently?

I have spent the past 48 hours searching for some answers. Trying to find that one “thing” that would cast some light on the darkness that had settled over me. I wanted the cloud gone. I wanted the gloom to vanish. I wanted to regain a sense of well being. In the end, I couldn’t pick up the phone and books, music, and rest did very little to change my internal world. So my next recourse was to hunker down and wait it out, but that only filled me with additional fear and foreboding over how long the wait would be.

God’s answer? Invite Him into the place I was presently at. Ask Him to meet me in my abode of failure, weakness, turmoil, tears, discouragement, and restlessness. “Meet me, Lord, in this place I find myself,” became my prayer, and His response was to meet me with loving kindness. He was the One I needed to sit with me, hold me, and comfort me. It sounds so simple when I see it written out yet it was profound. What I could not discard on my own, simply left as He entered and met with me.

He did more than lift my mood. He handed me a key to use in the future whenever needed. Inviting Him into a place will expel what should not be there. Will friends, books, and music still minister to me? In many respects, yes, but I hope to come to the place more and more whereby I ask God to meet me.

Father, You came. I noticed Your presence and all it affected. Thank you! Amen.

He Knows My Name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXsiWoyjw60

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.