In the Midst of Famine
“Behold the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
that he may deliver their soul from death
and keep them alive in famine”
~~ Psalms 33:18-19 (ESV).
John Piper writes, “It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold him.”
Have you ever lived through such a dark time in your life where it seemed as if things were completely out of control? You may have wondered, "How will I ever get out of bed and get going for the day?"
When your alarm goes off, have you thought, "Maybe I could just sleep in and hide from this darkness that will not leave."
Or maybe sin has crept in either through your choices, or those of your spouse, or even through your children.
What “well” do you draw upon in the midst of times of sorrow and suffering? Where do find your source of strength?
Have you ever been able to have joy in the midst of your greatest struggle? I don't mean happiness; for happiness is solely dependent upon outward circumstances and feelings such as when things go your way. No, I mean you can have true joy that only comes from the Lord that is solely based upon your personal relationship to Him.
Can you hear and then obey His voice that enables you to keep moving forward in your daily walk with Him despite how hard it may be physically to get out of bed and get dressed?
It takes faith and trust in our God (Who is Spirit). You may actually press into that spiritual life force (that can not been seen) in order to experience rest, peace, and joy in your own life in the here and now. It is possible, you know. When weariness overtakes you and your thoughts are flooded with anger or sadness, center yourself in Him - in Jesus, your Savior, Deliverer, your Strong Tower, Refuge, and Strength.
So how can you press through to victory in the midst of your famine?
First, Hope Will Lead the Way ...
The Bible says that we believers can (and really must) place all our hope in the Lord. We can be totally confident in His love, in His good plan for our lives, in His saving grace, in His mercy and kindness. He is not finished with us yet. All is not lost.
This is not the way it will always be - not the way you will live from now on. As we hope in Him, as we abide and rest from our own thoughts we will experience His hope. As you truly trust Him to work all things out for your good, He will do it. He has promised, and His promises are true!
Second, Peace Will Be Your Strength ...
God has promised to give us His peace. In John 14:27 we read, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful" (CSB).
His peace is a free gift to us. Only God can give you this peace. Don't look to the systems of this world for your inner peace. The calm that the Lord brings to us is supernatural and it is beautiful.
Actually it is a choice we must make to be at peace. Choose to leave the frustration, the agitation, the worry, and anxiety at the feet of Jesus, and trust Him. Ask Him to give you His peace, and He will.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" ~~ Matthew 11:28 (CSB).
Receive supernatural peace in the midst of your storm. You WILL MAKE IT THROUGH. When you need supernatural provision, it will be there for you when you keep your eyes upon the Lord.
Third, Stand Still in the Storm ...
Don't stop praying, expecting, believing, hoping, trusting. The Word of God says, "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you" ~~ 2 Chronicles 20:17a (NIV).
What Moses said to the Hebrew people in the wilderness during their wanderings in the desert on their way to the Promised Land God is saying to you also: "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today" ~~ Exodus 14:13 (New Heart English Bible).
God spoke, saying: “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world” ~~ Psalms 46:10.
And in Exodus 14:14: “The LORD will fight for you while you keep still.”
Receive these promises. Activate your faith and stand on them.
Fourth, Believe in the Goodness of The Lord ...
The Bible tells us that Jesus is with us at all times. He is alive and present in times of famine, in the midst of your dry, desert land. God does not bring the famine. These times come from our enemy, the devil. Yet through faith in God, He will show Himself strong to those who put their trust in Him. Believe in His goodness. For God is a good God. The devil is a bad devil. God comes to bring fresh living water to fill your well and give you hope in the midst of your storm. Peace will be your strength when you choose to believe in the goodness of the Lord, despite what the enemy has come to take from you. Like David in the Old Testament, you can "recover it all!" Hallelujah.
The Healing That Is From the Lord ...
God provides healing for our entire being - the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Healing implies wholeness ... He restores our joy as we spend time in His presence. We overflow with gladness of heart because of His mercy, goodness, and grace. Therefore we rejoice and are at peace as we hope in Him!
"Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being rejoices; my body also rests securely" ~~ Psalms 16:9 (CSB).
Let Us Pray ...
With Your help, Lord, I will be at peace. I purpose to rest in You. I wait patiently for You to act. And in the midst of my storm, I purpose to stand strong and be at peace. For You are not only able, but You will perform Your Word as it pertains to my life, our family, this circumstance I find myself in right now. I trust You, my Lord, to bring about a great victory for my benefit. In Your precious Name I pray, Amen.
Scriptures On Which to Meditate ...
"Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for him; do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way, by the person who carries out evil plans. Refrain from anger and give up your rage; do not be agitated—it can only bring harm" ~~ Psalms 37:7-8 (CSB).
“'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,' says the LORD, 'thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'” ~~ Jeremiah 29:11.
“The LORD your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing” ~~ Zephaniah 3:17.
"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil" ~~ Ephesians 6:11.
"But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world" ~~ 1 Peter 5:9.
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong" ~~ 1 Corinthians 16:13.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" ~~ Hebrews 10:23.
"With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation" ~~ Isaiah 12:3.
- Elizabeth Bowman