We Will Not Fear

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  Psalm 46:1-2

During the summer of 1998, I took a missions trip to China with five other people from our church.  We ministered in the underground churches which are not sanctioned by the Communist government.  A friend of mine and I traveled to Shanghai where we were asked to preach in an underground Christian gathering. At the end of the service, a group of us went to a house in the village.  It was late at night and the owner of the home suddenly warned us all to be quiet and to go into one of the bedrooms. 

Outside, the Chinese police combed the area with flashlights. My friend and I prayed quietly and put our trust in the Lord. We were the only white-skinned individuals in the area.  Our lives were probably not in grave danger, but if we were caught for proclaiming Christ under the Communist regime, we could be forced out of the country. The Chinese Christians who were with us were in much greater peril.

We waited in silence for about 20 minutes till we were told that the officers had passed us by.  Then my friend and I called for a taxi and made it back to our hotel.

God protected all of us and, although adrenaline rushed through my body, I was not afraid.  I believed God would take care of us.  We later learned that a minister friend of ours in the States was praying for us at that exact time. I am sure my lack of fear was a direct result of our friend’s prayers. 

You too can trust the Lord in difficult situations.  He promises to take care of you.  God is forever faithful.  When trouble comes, we can choose not to fear.

Dear God My Refuge,

I thank you for always being there for me.  No matter what, you never leave me.  Help me to place my trust in you during difficult times.  I thank you for your hand on my life and your peace in my heart.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Trust in the Lord

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

One Summer day a boy and his older cousin were wading in the salty waters of the Mediterranean Sea in Greece. The young man said to the four year old boy, “You can swim! Just move your arms and kick your feet like this.” He motioned with his arms.

The boy dove into the deeper waters. He began to inhale alkaline liquid while coughing and flailing his arms and legs.

His father, Jim, spotted his son, whose feet pierced through the waves. He grabbed his son and thrust him above the waters. The boy violently coughed up water while squeezing his father. In minutes he resumed normal breathing. All was well.

This was a true story. That boy was me. Jim is my father.

The story reminds me that we should place our trust in the Lord and not in others. My dad is like Father God in this story. My cousin represents other voices.

When we place our trust in the Lord He’s quick to save us.

Who are you trusting in?

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. God Bless you for all you do!