Sunday, July 1, 2018

The Alpha of Dealing with Distress

UV2997/10000 The Alpha of Dealing with Distress
In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

Psalm 120 v 1

There are situations and days in our lives when we face extreme despair and distress. The word “distress” indicates a disastrous level of stress to which one is exposed in such times and situations. Yet, it is precisely in these troubled times that when we cry out to the Lord, He hears our cries. He rushes to our side and comforts us. Though we are crushed by troubles from many sides and we seem helpless, the Lord sets our feet in a spacious space where we can breathe more freely. He delivers us from all of our troubles so that we glorify Him for His goodness towards us.

A couple of days ago, I met an industrialist who faced a great crisis as one of his units were closed due to labour unrest. During this crisis, his own brothers let him down by asking for their share. He was greatly distressed that during a crisis when he needed support his own brothers deserted him. In such situations, it is only the Lord God on whom we can rely. He will counsel us on what steps we ought to take to come out of it victorious and joyful. Another of my batchmates is right now facing a liver transplant in a couple of days. But his faith and that of his family is remarkable. He wrote to me, “ As I have received the word from the Lord, I consider myself already healed and whole. “

Faith in Jesus makes our lives more predictable as well as unpredictable at the same time. In one sense, we are living life on the edge and are not sure what would be the next predicament we would be facing and at the same time, we are sure that the Lord will not fail us in any kind of trouble. He is truly our anchor in the storm. He not only stabilises us and strengthens us from within but also changes the conditions: the wind and the rain are controlled by Him. So much so, our faith increases from crisis to crisis, distress to distress, trouble to trouble. We can rely on His word to us, “Many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from all.”

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