Define Rescue

I often prayed for rescue before my son died.  I didn't want the pain, the trial, the road set before me.  I wanted to be rescued.  And by rescued, I meant I wanted God to save my child.  To let me raise my son.  I knew God could still give me my son if He really wanted to...even after the heart monitors were turned off.  I asked Him to because I knew He could.  But, when my son did die and didn't come back, did that mean God answered no?  Or could it mean that God still did rescue me... that God was still rescuing me... that His sort of rescue for me in this situation looked different than I could have anticipated?

4/17/07

James 1: 2,3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

I often in these last few months have asked God to rescue me. To rescue me out of my situation. God’s answer has been to rescue me with his grace and empowerment to get through my situation and to lead me right where I am. I will not be lead out, but through so that I might develop perseverance. I lack less now at this moment than I did last year, month, week, and even moments ago.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.” (emphasis mine)

2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made PERFECT in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may REST on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”(emphasis mine)

I take delight, not for me or for what I am going through, but for Christ – that is when His power is made perfect. I thank Him for what He is doing for His glory. 

2Peter 2: 9a “…if this is so, then the Lord knows how to RESCUE godly men from trials.”

God does no abandon me when, in His sovereign wisdom and grace, He decides to leave me in a situation. Sometimes I may feel alone and in despair, but I only need to look to His Word to hear, know, and truly SEE His truth.

--forgive me for not always living in the empowerment of your grace. Lord, help me give glory and thanks for your sake through Jack’s death.