A Shelter in the Time of Storm

What Do People Do Without Jesus?

PREVIEW: Even though life doesn’t always turn out as you have planned, it is God’s plan that will prevail. Even when you can’t see him at work, even when you don’t feel his loving presence, he will never abandon you. He has a track record of faithfulness and goodness going all the way back to the beginning. So, my recommendation to you is to determine now to trust God at all times, and when the tough times come around, don’t abandon the only One who will never abandon you.

“Even though life doesn’t always turn out as we have planned, God’s plan prevails. You can take that to the bank!” —Dr. Ray Noah

A Journey of Worship // Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

Do you ever wonder what people who don’t know the Lord do when they face overwhelming difficulty and indescribable pain in their lives? I have often thought of that when a young mother is diagnosed with terminal cancer or the sole breadwinner abandons his wife and kids or when parents stand over the grave of their teenage child who has just been killed in a car crash, or a variety of other tragic scenarios.

What do people do without Jesus?

I am so thankful that my trust is in the Lord. He is indeed a shelter and a refuge. Not that I have been kept from hardship and tragedy — neither have you. We have had our share and perhaps will experience more in the future. As Jesus said, the rain falls on the just and unjust alike. (Matt 5:45) The difference is, we know to whom we can run when it’s raining — our loving Shelter. We know where to go in times of trouble—our great Refuge.

That is one of the things I love most about the faith that I’ve placed in Jesus Christ as my Savior. No matter what, I win! When trouble hits, I win because God delivers me from all of my troubles. (Psalm 34:17, Psalm 41:1) Even when I or a loved one goes through the tragedy of terminal illness, relational heartbreak, economic disaster, or premature death, I belong to a God who

  • Holds my hand — “I will never will I leave you or forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
  • Provides my daily bread — “My God will supply all my needs.” (Phil 4:19)
  • Turns my tragedy to triumph — “In all things he works for the good” (Rom 8:28)
  • Trumps death with eternal life — “He who believes in me, even though he dies, will live again.” (John 11:24-26)
  • And one day will permanently turn my tears to joy and make everything new — “He will wipe away every tear.” (Rev 21:4)

Even though life doesn’t always turn out as we have planned, God’s plan prevails. He will never abandon us. He has a track record of faithfulness and goodness going all the way back to the beginning. So, my recommendation to you is to determine now to trust God at all times, and when the tough times come around, don’t abandon the only one who will never abandon you.

My Offering of Worship: Are you going through a season of sorrow right now? I would encourage you to not only reflect on this psalm, and pray it back to God, but open a hymnal to “The Solid Rock” and remind yourself that your hope — a hope that scripture tells us will not disappoint — stands on Christ, the solid rock!

Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.

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