Psalm 34:4, 6
“God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. When I was desperate to God, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot.” (MSG)
I’m small in stature, so it’s very easy for me to fit into tight spots. I lost count a long time ago how many times God has gotten me out of them. My life, for the better part of it thus far, was lived finding tight spots and not paying much attention to God. But when I got stuck, I called out, and he was always there.
The life of tight spots is a very anxious life. Living in today’s society, even, it can be difficult not to feel anxious. In spite of lessons that over and over teach us we need not worry (i.e. Matt 6:25-34), so many things today drive us onward to fear. “Be afraid, the world is in peril!” the news shouts. “This recession will never end,” headlines scream.
But apart from the world in general, there is a whole host of things about we make ourselves anxious in day-to-day life. It is exhausting to live in constant worry. And it is in no way productive or helpful in getting us through our days.
God indeed freed me from my anxious fears. Just yesterday I stopped to take notice of what he’s done for me in giving me his peace which passes all understanding. I am open to it most of time now, only closing off to it when I’m having one of my doubtful moments or being tempted by a tight spot.
In a many faceted situation, I was graced with an opportunity to make some extra money by jumping onto a project with an approaching deadline. Given all the nuances of the situation, in the past I would have been anxious about a number of things walking into this. Instead, with the grace of God, I peacefully and cheerfully walked in and then quickly settled in, never feeling out of place or unable to do the task set before me.
It was incredible.
What was even more incredible was the fact that since God’s peace has started to become almost second nature to me, I didn’t even realize until halfway through the day how I would have felt had I been in this position even six months ago.
God doesn’t stand on one side of the beach and wait for me to travel the whole distance to him. The moment I take a step toward him, the moment I reach out my arms in his direction, he comes running toward me, arms open wide. He’ll meet me more than halfway, and when he scoops me up in his arms and I’m wrapped up in his loving embrace, I am reassured and have no reason to be afraid.
Amen! :D
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