The God Who Rescues

January 17, 2023

The God Who Rescues

By Brooke Holt

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.” Psalm 40:1-3

These words from Psalm 40 are so meaningful to me as they are my story. While I have not proven to be the best at waiting for the Lord, I am learning. I am learning because I have experienced what David describes in this psalm: "He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry blog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure” (Psalm 40:2). When I was at the end of myself, I can declare that the Lord stooped down to rescue me.

My rescue story is not one of fire falling from heaven or angels lifting me out of a difficult situation. Instead, in my rescue story, God reached out to me through the testimony of a trusted friend and mentor who had walked through the healing process to overcome incredible adversity. God rescued me through a prayer minister who took me under her wing and helped me see my circumstances with divine perspective. The Lord rescued me through the tireless prayer of another friend and mentor who interceded for my specific needs and taught me that God is one who stills heals today. He did it through my husband who loved me through many difficult days. The Lord wrapped me in his love, walked me through the darkest of days, and eventually drew me out of the miry bog.

And like David, I have a song of praise in my mouth. I will share my healing story with anyone who will listen, because I long for them to know God’s heart to heal them, to see every painful situation in life as an invitation for his divine redemption, and to know there is always a hope and a future with the Lord. My desire is that God will use my pain and my healing to minister to others that they “will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD” (Psalm 40:3).

Reflection:

The Lord loves to rescue his people! Have you experienced the intervention of the Lord in your life? If so, are you sharing your testimony in order that your story may lead others to our God? If not, are you calling out to him today, waiting patiently, and watching for the people he sends to support you through your own healing process? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

Jesus’ great commission to his apostles after his resurrection was to go into all the world to preach, teach, and baptize in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From the very beginning, baptism has been understood as the doorway into this new kind of family. Explore what Jesus expects of this new family that finds its origin and purpose in him. The baptized are called into a new life of faith. From passages in Matthew to the shining examples of faith in our passage from John, Waters of Baptism is a helpful resource for those seeking the sacrament of baptism or those who want a deeper understanding of their faith. This six week study will help us understand the importance of baptismal living.

The Crucified Life