What do you do when you are overwhelmed or hurt? I’ve been thinking about this lately as I reflect on my relationship with my daughter. When she is scared or overwhelmed, she will look for Daddy or Mommy. When she bumps her head, she cries and then looks for us. But she doesn’t merely look; she crawls to us, looks up with her big blue eyes, and reaches out for us to pick her up. She wants to be held and feel safe. My daughter reminds me of how I should be with my Heavenly Father. When I am overwhelmed, I tend to stress over it, complain about it, and wallow in it. How about you? Like my daughter, what I should be doing in these moments, is looking to my Heavenly Father and reaching out to Him. Listen to these words: “The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10, NLT) We’ve been looking at some of the names of the Lord. Hopefully, you are discovering that these names point to more than a name. It reveals his character and work. For Christians, God’s character and work is a strong fortress. A refuge in times of trouble. Why does my daughter look for me when she is overwhelmed? Because she knows me and understands that I care for her. She trusts me. Do you know your Heavenly Father? Have you come to the point where you realize that he cares for you? Do you trust him? Trace the story of Israel, and you will learn that this takes time. God showed that He cared for them by delivering them from Egypt. Yet, when they reach the blockade of the Red Sea on one side and a pursuing army on the other, they cry out, “Did you bring us here just to kill us!” God then shows his love by splitting the Red Sea into two, causing them to cross over on dry land. He then defeats the pursuing army by closing the sea upon them. They are grateful, yet, as they journey through the wilderness, with no water for three days, they cry out again, “Did you bring us here just to kill us!” God then shows his love again, this time by providing clean drinking water in the wilderness. They are grateful, yet as they continue on their journey, they get hungry and cry out again, “Did you bring us here just to kill us!” God again shows his love, this time, by providing manna from heaven. God meets their needs each time, yet they have difficulty understanding that God cares for them. Notice that each time they complain, it is because of a different need. God provided us with an escape from Egypt, but surely He can’t split a sea in two?! God provided us with a passage through the sea, but surely He can’t make contaminated water drinkable?! God provided us with water in the desert, but surely He can’t provide food for us?! Yet, at each point in the story, God shows He is capable of meeting the need. Our season in life has brought many new challenges. Can God meet the needs that come with these challenges? You bet! Listen to these words: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20, NLT) My daughter has come to trust me; have I come to trust my Heavenly Father? Because she trusts me, she comes to me when she is overwhelmed so that I may pick her up. I’m reminded of the name of God - Yahweh Nissi - The Lord is my banner. It’s an intriguing name. We discover the name first in Exodus 17, where the Amalekites made an unprovoked attack on Israel in the wilderness. Israel was no match against these well-trained soldiers. Yet, they were not alone. God was with them and would fight for them. And He would demonstrate this in a pretty strange way. Moses would be on a mountain, and Israel would fight beneath it. When his staff was above his head, the battle would be in favour of Israel. When he lowered his staff, the fight would turn in favour of the Amalekites. You might be wondering, “What’s so special about Moses’ staff?” Nothing per se. The staff was a piece of wood, but what this stick represented made it a source of power. It symbolized the hand of God. God would use it as a visible demonstration for His people numerous times in the book of Exodus. Moses’ position of raising his hands is a demonstration of prayer. What’s the picture then? Moses is relying on the power and strength of God to win the battle. And Israel is led by God into victory. After this event, we read: “Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means “the LORD is my banner”)." (Exodus 17:15, NLT) We discover this name again in the book of Psalms. And there we see its significance. “But you have raised a banner for those who fear you – a rallying point in the face of attack” (Psalm 60:4, NLT) What does it mean for God to be our banner? It means He is our rallying point. The one who we run to in times of difficulty. We run to Him because He is our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble.
Just as my daughter turns to me when she is overwhelmed or hurting, I need to turn to my Heavenly Father. And as my daughter comes crawling so that I may pick her up, I need to go to my Heavenly Father so that he may deliver me. He is to be my rally point. Now, does my daughter always come crawling to me? No. Sometimes she stays where she is and flails around. Does she still want to be held? Yes, but for some reason, she stays in the same place. It is during those moments that I come to her and pick her up. And so it is the same with my Heavenly Father. When you are overwhelmed or hurting, go to God. And you will discover that He is the refuge and strength that you need in times of trouble.
1 Comment
Stephanie Haayer
4/8/2021 07:02:08 pm
Love this!!
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