God Alone

"I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken."

Psalm 62:1-2 NLT

Life is hard.  My heart breaks easily.  Tears come quickly at the sound of compassion.  There are many places I could turn, ways to ease the pain, routes to follow in a quest for relief.  Only One, however, is worthy of such confidence.

Wait.  My flesh hungers after productiveness.  I feel a need to do something.  It's hard to sit by and watch as things fall to pieces.  Yet this is exactly what God wants from me.  He desires that I wait quietly before Him, sitting at His feet to find His peace, giving Him a chance to work on my behalf.

The Israelites learned this firsthand when they stood between the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptian army.  As they panicked, crying out for delivery, God told them what to do.  He said, "Don't be afraid.  Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today." (Exodus 14:13a).

God is the only One who is worth waiting for.

Salvation.  "Jesus. Jesus. Jesus."  I heard her grieving, wounded heart utter His name.  Her husband cruelly and brutally snatched from her midst, she sat in the shambles of her broken life and drew comfort from the one name that could save her from this pain (Isaiah 61:1-3, Acts 4:11-12).

He said He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  When He proclaimed such wonder, He meant more than just that He is the way to heaven where He would sit at the right hand of His Father.  He was also ushering in His kingdom here on earth where He is the key to receiving all good things from the Father.  He is the conduit of grace, the channel through which His redemptive love flows, the means to discover the abundant life in the midst of the mess.

Jesus is the only name by which I can be saved.

Rock.  It all seemed to be sinking sand.  Everywhere I stood, my feet sunk into the soft, warm sea shore and I couldn't find a way to anchor the shelter.  We tried piling the sand up over the feet, sinking the poles deep in the sand.  We tied out the anchors, but the stakes easily pulled out at the first gust of wind.  Soon, the sun shield we had erected was blowing down wind as we chased behind like some erratic kind of parade.  At least we were giving the other beach goers some form of entertainment, but what we needed was something solid in which to secure our tent if we had any hope of it staying put.  

God is this solid ground, this rock upon which I can build my life.  He is secure and unchanging, giving me a strong base, a sure foundation.  With this kind of footing, I will not easily be swayed (Matthew 7:24-27).  I can also draw my strength from His since mine is easily depleted.  Then, I will soar like an eagle through the sky, effortlessly gliding above the clouds (Isaiah 40:31).  When I feel helpless, at the mercy of merciless man, there is the power of His indwelling Spirit that gives me a way to rise out of the ashes (2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 61:3).

God is the rock of my life.

It sometimes seems life is one big struggle after another.  Following Jesus, however, gives purpose to the pain.  While I could seek many ways to cope with the difficulties, there is only One who can be trusted with such jewels.  In Him I can wait with confidence, find salvation and discover the rock that is necessary for stability.  In God alone I place my trust.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that when trouble comes my way, I can let Jesus be the only Name I utter.

How do I turn to other sources for help?

When am I easily knocked off my feet?         

Because of Who He is

"I love you, LORD;

you are my strength.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;

my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me,

and my place of safety.

I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

and he saved me from my enemies."

Psalm 18:1-3 NLT

God is worthy to be praised.  It is easy to extol His virtues after a successful rescue mission, or when He protects me from harm, or on the occasion of witnessing a work of His mighty hand.  

If I believe He is so great, however, I can choose to always give Him praise, as if I believe I am already saved, guarded, and delivered, even before I am.  Yes, I can praise Him at all times because of who He is.

Rock.  The door to the barn shifted in the bitter cold Northerly.  As big as it was, rising 15 feet up, it's weight was no match for such a strong wind.  I found some large boulders nearby that would do the job of shoring up the door for the next storm.  Heavy as they were, these rocks would not be moved by any force of nature.

Stones have that reputation.  They are used as paperweights to keep light sheets from blowing off the desk, or can be fashioned into a foundation for a house, or can even stand as a landmark for generations to use to find their way.  A rock is going to stay in place even when mighty trees could be uprooted by strong gusts or heavy rains.

God is this rock.  He's unmovable.  He doesn't change (James 1:17).  He isn't susceptible to suggestion (Isaiah 40:13).  God is solid and dependable (Numbers 23:19).  For this reason, I can take refuge in Him.  Despite what is going on around me, I can always find Him right where I left Him.  I can believe He is there even if I don't sense His presence because He is my solid, unwavering rock.

When everything is swirling around me and I don't know which way is up, I can stand on this firm foundation, gaining my bearings once again.  When I begin to sink down into the pit of despair, feeling hopeless and discouraged, I can step up onto this solid pillar of strength, finding firm footing again.  When I'm confused and unsure, like I'm wandering through a wilderness of uncertainty, I can look for Him as a beacon of guidance, knowing I will find Him in His steadfastness.

I can praise God because He is my solid Rock.

Fortress.  The wind was relentless up on top of the mountain.  While the view was gorgeous, all of Puget Sound laid out before me, the bitter cold was made worse by the gusts blowing right through my clothes.  I made my way to the stone tower, hoping to find some shelter.  As soon as I stepped inside the solid structure, I was surprised how much warmer it felt.  I had found a fortress against the storm.

Life is like a storm, relentlessly pounding against me, wearing me down.  In such an environment, I need shelter.  I need a fortress that will protect me from harm.  I need a refuge where I will be safe.

God is that fortress.  No matter what happens in this world, I can find security in Him.  His solid nature can guard my mind from confusion, providing a refuge from the tantalizing lies I am tempted to adopt as truth.  His protecting Spirit keeps me from bearing too strong a temptation, giving me a way out in His mercy (1 Corinthians 10:13).

I can praise God because He is my Fortress.

Deliverer.  When I went through Lifeguard training, one of the important skills I learned was how to escape from an aggressive victim.  Those who are trying to save themselves, thrashing around in desperation, make for a dangerous rescue because they can take the rescuer down with them.  For this reason, a lifeguard prefers to help someone who knows their need for help and has surrendered to the lifesaver's efforts.   

It's the same with me and Jesus.  I am unable to help myself, but that doesn't always stop me from trying.  Before I can be saved, however, I must realize my need for a Savior.  If I don't think I'm in jeopardy or danger, or believe that I can somehow save myself, I won't see my need to be delivered nor will I make a good candidate for saving.  It is necessary for me to feel the weight of my sin in order to truly appreciate what Jesus did for me on the cross, but it's also important that I fully give into His rescue plan, trusting fully in Him as my Deliverer.

Sometimes I think I'm partially responsible for my own deliverance, like I can play some kind of role in my own rescue.  In reality, God is the only One who is able to deliver me from the punishment of my own sins.  After all, I am unable to meet His perfect standard as is required to enter into His holy presence (Romans 3:23).  I need the blood of Jesus to save me from the wrath of God my sins have brought down upon myself (Romans 6:23).  Trying to take part in my own salvation is even more ridiculous than me thinking I can save myself when I'm drowning.

Other times I feel guilty for letting Him bear such a load so I attempt to take some of the burden back until I cry, "I can't take this anymore!"  I can even get the idea that I can help myself this time, thinking that I'll let God handle the next crisis, until I buckle under the pressure of trying to be my own savior.

I can praise God because He is my Deliverer.

I don't have to wait until God comes through.  Instead, I can praise Him now for what He is always doing on my behalf, honoring Him as my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer.  I can always worship Him for who He is, not just what He's done.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can praise God in the midst of the storm, giving Him accolades for who He is.

When do I withhold praise until things turn out the way I want?

How am I guilty of only worshiping God for what He has done for me instead of admiring His character and attributes?