Strength

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Just like Forrest Gump we can all say that “life is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you’re gonna get!”  Things can change in an instant…for the better and for the worse.  That is why we must know where our strength comes from and where we can turn to for help.

Life without Rick is demanding that I take a look at my weaknesses and strengths.  It seems I have more weaknesses than I realized…but I am learning that He is increasing my strength.  Rick was one of my greatest strengths.  Spiritually as well as physically.  It is amazing how we depend upon someone for so many things and don’t realize it until they are no longer here.  Things such as having a simple conversation, knowing they will have an answer for something you simply don’t know, being able to call and know they will answer, knowing they think you are important…even when you feel that you are not, knowing you can share your heart and be loved and accepted…especially when your heart isn’t feeling any of that, and for practical things like broken garage doors, stopped up toilets, gardening, landscaping and my latest adventure…locking both sets of Jeep keys in the Jeep at 10:00 pm.

I am learning, very slowly, that God IS my Refuge.  He is teaching me through MANY circumstances that I would rather do without…but for some reason He thinks are necessary.  I am also learning that in His goodness He sends those a long side us “with skin on” that become to us a refuge as well.  There are so many that have come beside me in this grief journey to help.   And so many others who have offered to come if I have a need.  I am so grateful for them…smile.  I am learning to do things on my own…and am beginning to learn how to ask for help…or at least accept it when it’s offered. (I’m trying…smile)  Tonight was one of those times.  Both sets of keys…locked tightly inside my Jeep, along with my purse and cell phone.  Another “grief brain” moment.  I called the Sheriff’s office, hoping they would feel sorry for me, have someone in this area and send them over to rescue my keys.  No such luck.  So I figured I would try to do it myself.   I got on Google and tried to quickly learn how to unlock the door with a coat hanger.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  One coat hanger, screw driver, and flash light later…my keys were still in the Jeep.  I decided to call Jacob.  I had to get Rick’s old phone out to find his number and called him from the house phone.  He didn’t answer.  So I went to the Jeep, stood outside the door and told God it would be really neat if He would just pop the locks up with me standing there…I watched and waited…the doors stayed locked.  I guess He didn’t like my idea.  Several minutes later Jacob called and said he would come…I tried to convince him that I would take care of it in the morning, but he said not to worry, he would be here in 10 minutes.

It’s funny how one short verse can say so much.  This verse in Psalm 46 says several important things.  First of all it says that God is our Refuge.  In the Hebrew this word means that He is someone that we “seek and actually flee to for protection”…for refuge.    He is also described as our strength, which in the Hebrew means “might or strength in both material and physical things”.  He is present which means “to be found sufficient, to be enough”.  He is our present help, which is the same word in the Hebrew used in Genesis for the woman as the “help-meet” for man…meaning “to come a long beside.”   And He is all these things when we are in trouble, “a tight or narrow place”.  This tiny verse is packed with meaning.  The LORD is the One when we are in a tight place, He comes a long beside us, bringing His sufficiency, His might and strength into all our material and physical needs and protects us as we flee to Him.

I am coming to believe something else very important about God through my grief and need.  One of the most important ways that He provides for us…is through other people.  We are His Body…we are physical beings living in a material world with people who have many needs.  Tonight my need was met by a very important person in my life…my son.  Rick’s son…  Another hard, narrow place that I found myself in and God used Jacob…His son…to be my strength and my help…one who came a long beside.  It took him less than 5 minutes to get the door opened and my keys out of the Jeep.  All my distress washed away in 5 minutes…all because he came.

Will we answer when someone calls?  Will we be the one who helps?  Will we help someone who finds they are in a “tight” place?  Oh please, let’s be willing to look around us as we live our lives…at work, at the store, at the ballgame, in our neighborhoods and homes.  LORD, help us be willing to be the one…and we may feel as if we are the only one helping…but help us be that one who will be Your refuge and strength for someone in trouble.

I need help almost daily it seems…may I be willing to also be one who gives help as well as receives it.

Thank you Jacob for being His strength…

Sending much love,

Debbie

This entry was written on June 4, 2010 at 11:39 pm