Hards can come upon us like waves, one after another. We see clouds building on the horizon, unsure if they will dissipate or move away from us. As we watch over our shoulder, the storm draws closer, the winds picking up causing the waves to increase in intensity. Before we move to escape, we are caught in the clutches of a violent storm. The waves come in high and fast, knocking us off our feet. We no sooner pick ourselves up from one wave crashing against us, than another curls over our heads and slams us against the rocky bottom. Bruising us; causing abrasions on tender skin. Likewise, as if the aftermath of one hard isn’t enough to deal with, just as we begin to get our legs under us, BAM, another hard knocks us back off our feet.
In the midst of an onslaught of hards, we crave a rescue. We need a Rescuer. We find ourselves crying out as David did, “Reach down Your hand from on high; deliver me and rescue me from the mighty waters.” (Psalm 144:7)
The word rescue is spread throughout Scripture. Genesis to Revelation tell story after story of God rescuing His people. And declaring His promises to continue to do so.
“He brought me out into a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
2 Samuel 23:3
We covet a spacious place when battered with one hard thing after another. Room to breathe. Room to move about with no bruising. A quiet space to process what has happened.
Did you catch why He rescues? “Because He delights in us”. Why in the world would the God of heaven and earth delight in us? In me? Because we are His creation. And when we turn to Him and humbly bow before His majesty, He turns His face to us and smiles, delighting in who He knows we will be in the fullness of His Spirit.
“Guard my life and rescue me;
Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in You.”
Psalm 25:20
Not only does God rescue us, but He does not leave us dripping and broken, as He walks away. He becomes and remains our refuge. Our strong fortress. He pulls us out of the storm and then fortifies Himself around us to protect us and harbor us. To give us rest and a chance to heal and grow strong again.
“Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue;
Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”
Psalm 31:2
You may remember this verse from a previous writing; a favorite. Let these powerful words sink deep into your shattered soul:
“Because she loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue her;
I will protect her; for she acknowledges my name.
She will call upon me, and I will answer her;
I will be with her in trouble, I will deliver her and honor her.”
Psalm 91:14-15
And the reason He is the greatest Rescuer of all time, and for all time, is that He not only rescues us from our predicaments and sorrows and trials; but He rescues us from the greatest turmoil we will ever know: our own sin. He rescues us from evil. And, from the darkest hard: death itself. He waits for us to turn to Him and ask Him to be Lord of our lives, and then He rushes in with glorious power and overwhelming love to rescue us and offer us every treasure on earth and in heaven.
“What a wretched woman I am!
Who will rescue me from this body of death?
Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
Romans 7:24
“…the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins
To rescue us from the present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father.”
Galatians 1:4
“For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness
And brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Colossians 1:13
If you are being bombarded by hard after hard, reach your hand up and cry out to the Great Rescuer. Tho the waters cover you, He reaches down to save you.
Read through these scriptures again and know that if you are His, these promises have your name written into them. Hold onto them and feel His mighty hand rescue you and pull you to safety in Him.
And if you are not His, take this moment to bow your knee and heart and ask Him into your life. A simple, sincere prayer is all that’s required. “Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. Rescue me. Save me.” And you will walk hand in hand with the Great Rescuer for the rest of your days and all of eternity. He loves you so.
