Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope, Lord,is in you. (Psalm 25:20-21)

Perhaps there have been times when you have gone through absolute terror in the face of the unknown, as I have. You know, when it feels like you are going to be devoured by the enemy of your soul.  There have been times in my own life when the attack of the enemy against me is so strong that the only refuge is to hide within God.

I find that one of the strongest things that I can do in the face of trial is to open up the Psalms and begin to read.  It is as though David went through everything I went through, but always managed to find his God through it.

And so as I read the Psalms great refreshing begins to wash over me as I seek to find my God even in my own trials.

Over the last few days I have felt great panic in my heart in the face of unknown circumstances coming toward me.  I don’t know about you, but I often envision bad things in the face of new circumstances.  I hate to say this, but there are times that I meditate on the “what ifs” rather than the nature of my God.

What if bad comes my way because of my lack of knowledge? 

What if the enemy triumphs over me? 

These attacks can be a little more subtle and have great power like a word from a friend who says that something bad is about to happen to you, but you will overcome.  It can sound like a word from God, but there is no heaven’s dew upon it.

Have you ever faced a word that sounded like God, but caused great fear and shame in your heart?

Even if you make mistakes, God is there loving and protecting you.  I have seen it time and time again in my own life.  I don’t always make the best decisions and not because I am trying to be devious, but because I lack knowledge.

The Lord in these moments is gracious and forgives and helps me to stand even when the decisions I made may have been wrong.  He can make a way even when there seems to be no way.

These thoughts bring me great peace.  What a God we serve!  He is the God of the miraculous and His ways are always good and He has good in store for all of our lives. 

That has been my experience over the course of my Christian life and I know it can be yours as well.  So don’t give up hope, but continue steadfast in Him and watch how He guides your path and keeps you even in the face of your mistakes.