“Bless the Lord . . Who redeems your life from destruction.” Psalm 103:4 NKJV
“When trouble comes, abide in perfect peace and safety in God’s care.”
My thoughts and comments today are about “redeemed lives.”
The world is frequently an unsafe place, but you do not have to live in fear. There are things you will not evade because you were wise enough to see and avoid them. You will not foresee everything that could be hurtful, so you need a Redeemer who does! “Bless the Lord . . and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness . . Who satisfies you with good things.” Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV. What a litany of blessing!
The context of King David’s words is essential to appreciate the vastness of God’s comfort. All that God is flows from His love to forgive and redeem. David is not peering wishfully into the future nor glancing nervously ahead as he writes these words. He is reflecting on the grace and mercy he has already experienced – looking at the faithfulness of God across his lifetime. Recognition of what God has done gives assurance of what God will always do, ever true to His character and nature.
Faith in the moment allows you to flee confidently to God’s arms when trouble comes and abide there in perfect peace and safety. Salvation does not promise trouble will not come. The Savior is your assurance that, come though it does, you are not alone and will be protected. “You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy . . I will trust in the shelter of Your wings” Psalm 61:3-4 NKJV.
Read the Psalms. David experienced all that you will and probably more, yet found that God is always there to save and satisfy. See Psalm 91. Some years ago, Gayle and I had a terrible auto accident. It was not a danger we could have anticipated nor avoided. Driving at highway speeds on a city street, a drunk driver crossed into our lane striking our car head-on. Because there was a fatality, an investigator reconstructed the accident. His conclusion? There was no natural explanation how we survived such a collision. God “redeemed our lives from destruction.”
I awakened in the ICU about 36 hours after reconstructive, facial surgery. Though still groggy and dazed, I awakened to know that sometime while still unconscious there was a gentle word to my heart. I simply knew, as though I had heard the words audibly, “Tonight the devil tried to take your life, but I am with you.” God redeemed my life from destruction. God would satisfy our lives with good things, as He said; and He has, more than we could have imagined. See Jeremiah 29:11.
Yet the worst thing God ever saved me from was my sins, and His salvation alone would be sufficiently satisfying. More than any adversity that occurs, the greatest destroyer of life is your own sin and disobedience. Sin can steal more from you than any trouble or misfortune ever could. That’s how and where He truly “redeems your life from destruction.” This world is too frightening without Jesus in your life. And life is incomplete without “all His benefits . . Who crowns with you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things.”
My prayer for you today is that you never live without the One who saves and satisfies.