Strengthened by His Power and Grace: The Lord Is Closest to His Shorn Lamb

So, Who holds our hearts and keeps them from breaking when our worlds are seemingly falling apart? Who comforts our weary souls and broken, needy spirits? Who strengthens us and causes us to stand when all else is tumbling down around us? Our all-powerful Jesus – our Savior and our Lord – Who holds us, strengthens us and causes us to stand because He is faithful and able to cause us to stand. He comforts us and He’s got “this” – even “this”. Whatever your problem, Jesus is the answer.  

We can trust our Lord to bring power, peace and purpose to every circumstance we walk through – even though we perhaps cannot possibly imagine how. He has a plan for each of our lives and we are to be faithful to walk in it. It is a plan to prosper and not harm, a plan to give us hope and a future. His grace is always sufficient to meet our every need. And we can know for certain He holds all things in His all-powerful Hands. Indeed, King David writes in Psalms 18:2 (NIV): “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Notice how many “My’s” are in there? Our God is a personal God Who cares greatly for us. And if you are His, you are always His.

We can hold too tightly to the things we deem our security—our savings accounts, our friends and families, our possessions, our jobs, our whatever’s – mistakenly thinking they will supply our needs, our itch and our wants – yet these are merely “stick houses” in God’s economy – when the great wind blows they all come tumbling down. They are as grabbing tightly to a mist that soon vanishes. They are given to us to enjoy but not to hold on too tightly to. But our Jesus? He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother through all of our ups and downs of this tumultuous life. He comforts and consoles, strengthens and saves, and He can miraculously bring peace to every circumstance as we trust in Him. He is the only One Who can make beauty from our ashes, the oil of gladness from our mourning’s and a garment of praise from our spirits of despair - in every circumstance of life. There is always something in Jesus for our comfort and strength. The same love that brought us everlasting life will walk us through all our “Valley of Baca’s” (tears) – taking us from strength to strength until we are home with Him.  

It also does us well to remember that God is our very great reward – He is our sufficiency and strength and an ever present help in our times of trouble and grief. There is something in Him for every malady of man. As we trust in Him, He quiets our beings and strengthens our frames – carrying us on eagle’s wings and bringing joy to our weary souls which is unearthly in its nature. He is the soul satisfying rest of man.

Scripture tells us in Proverbs 18:10 (NIV): “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” He is our refuge and strength – no matter what comes through in our lives – sickness or health – poverty or riches – life or death. He is and will always be sufficient and is our utterly reliable anchor no matter how hard the winds may blow. He causes us to stand because He is faithful and able to cause us to stand. No matter what the trouble, God is the Deliverer.