Blog

Observation

Paul writes to Timothy from prison facing death. This guy has endured every form of “evil attack” possible, and yet writes with such confidence of the Lord’s rescue. I think often rescue for me means I am never under attack. I think, and I hear others say, ‘that God has deserted them’ when life turns difficult, painful, and desperately disappointing. But it’s not avoidance of the presence of evil and brokenness that God ever promises. Paul’s personal experience was that he had encountered all types of evil, from floggings to shipwrecks, prison, starvation, beatings, and many times being close to death. The victory that Paul claims is not avoidance but rescue.

How foolish I am when I desert my rescuer in times when I need rescue. When I blame the rescuer for the situation I miss the presence of rescue. It’s like drowning and blaming the approaching lifeguard for not making the rip clear and rejecting the offer of rescue from the only one who can rescue you. We drown in the attacks of evil by rejecting the presence of our rescuer. Rather than floating on our backs knowing confidently that “the Lord will rescue me and bring me to his safety.”

What you declare is what you see. We often prolong the attack of evil in our lives by the way we walk the journey. We so often spend our little energy on the fruitless search for who is to blame and why did this happen, rather than declaring “my rescuer is at hand, from where will my rescue come?” The questions we ask, and the postures we take shape the journey we walk. We cannot stop evil and the brokenness of this world from entering our paths, but we can determine the way we walk through its presence and consequences. When I declare “the Lord will rescue me,” I now walk through evil with hope energising me, and expecting to see my God’s glory in his rescue of me to his safety. We never are promised by God the happy life we so desperately want. But we are promised a way to walk the difficult paths of life when evil robs the beauty and pleasure. But with all things of God, this path is chosen never forced, always available to all but never engaged without deliberate presence to his presence.

Application

I will be responsible for my response to evil attacks. I will not reject my rescue’s presence and drown in my questions and blaming. I will not allow my incapability of knowing the why to shut my eyes to the nearness of my rescuer. I will not be blindsided when life’s circumstances are authored by brokenness and evil, I will live expectant of these times in my life, without desiring them.

Response

Thank you for the always presence of rescue in all circumstances. Thank you that I never walk alone drowning in life’s troubles without your rescue being near and present. Thank you for the promise of rescue and deliverance. This is a beautiful way to walk through the hard days of life. This is a blessed life.

Meditation

Thank you for the always presence of rescue in all circumstances. Thank you that I never walk alone drowning in life’s troubles without your rescue being near and present. Thank you for the promise of rescue and deliverance. This is a beautiful way to walk through the hard days of life. This is a blessed life.