God my strength...

     As I go through various trials and tests,  I am more and more noticing that God is teaching me to do something very important - trust Him. I would love not to have to face some of the challenging things I face but I realize that it is through these challenges that God is teaching me to trust Him, to trust His ability - not my own - to save me. 
    David wrote many psalms out of his times of distress, discouragement and despair. It seemed that one enemy or another was plaguing his life. Yet, he chose to look to his God and to have the confidence that God would see him through; that God would help him survive whatever attack he was facing. 
    Psalm 27 is one of those songs that he wrote that is a reminder of God’s ability to protect and keep His people in times of trouble. 
    The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?
    The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? (v.1)
The Psalm starts off by highlighting who God is - He is light, salvation and strength. When you think about it, troubling times are dark times. We find it difficult to see the end of our situation, we find it difficult to see a way out and we feel discouraged, even hopeless. Yet, in those dark times, the one spark of light is our God. He is our hope, He is that light that guides us - even though we may not realise it - as we navigate dark, dreary seasons. He lights our path and guides our steps day by day, even minute by minute. 
    He is our salvation. Strong’s concordance offers alternative words - liberty, safety. I like the word “safety” because it tells me that when I am going through difficult times, I can feel safe because God is with me and will take care of me. I can almost picture Him wrapping His arms around me, cradling me, even as the walls of darkness and danger, at times, seem to close in on me.
    “He is the strength of my life…” It is never about my strength, it is always about His. In fact, my strength comes from Him. I cannot face challenges alone, I cannot successfully navigate the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4) by myself. I need His strength to carry me through. Have you ever been through times when, as you go through those dark valleys, you literally feel weak - physically, emotionally, mentally, even spiritually? Those times seem to drain the very life out you and you are not sure you will even make it. It is at these times of weakness, that God proves Himself strong.
    The word “strength” also signifies a fortified place, a defence, a fortress, a rock, a stronghold (Strong’s Concordance). Think about it, no matter what you go through, as a child of God, you have your own fortress, your own fortified place, that you can run to in times of trouble. It does not mean that you will not feel the negative effects of difficult times, but your confidence lies in the reality that God is nearer than you think or feel, and He is protecting you from things that you don’t even know about.
    Paul in his letter to the Corinthians states: “That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul understood that in his weak times, in his difficult seasons, God’s strength is what pulled him through. He did not have to do it on his own; he did not have to rely on his own strength or ability. God would happily and willingly come through for him and give him the strength he needed to make it through. 
    We all go through difficult seasons. No one is exempt from them. Yet, we can be confident that God, who is our light, salvation and strength, will enable us to survive whatever comes our way. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He will not leave us alone to face challenges; He does not expect or command us to make it through without Him. He knows we need Him and He is more than willing to come to our aid when we need it. 
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. God is big enough and more than able to handle whatever difficulty comes your way. He will never leave you alone to fend for yourself but desires that you run to Him freely and confidently so that He can help you when you can’t do it on your own.

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