Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou shalt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.  The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever:  forsake not the work of thine own hands.   Psalm 138: 7-8 (emphasis mine)

 

This past week I was walking over at the park near my house.  I am thankful we are allowed to go outside and enjoy fresh air and exercise and I try to walk a couple of miles each day.  It has been my habit to spend my time walking in meditation of scripture, usually thinking about a sermon I'm preparing, praying, working through problems, and just giving thanks to the Lord.

As I was walking, I noticed an older man with a portable oxygen tank walking his dog.   “How are you, sir?” he asked.

 Keeping a proper social distance, I replied “Fine, How are you getting along?”

“Oh” he said rather sadly, “Just trying to survive”

“Yes, I hear that” I responded as I walked past.

As I continued walking I thought about that man.  He was definitely in the category of “underlying medical conditions”.  Older, and using oxygen. He certainly was thinking about his own condition and just hoping to survive the COVID-19 virus. He was like a lot of us. Fearful, uncertain, just trying to survive another day.  Expectations, hopes and dreams of what we want life to be all pushed aside. In their place, the drudgery of the “shelter in place” life. The life of just survival. Our eyes glued to our media devices waiting for the latest update:  how many more cases? How many more deaths? What are our bungling leaders doing now to help us? We glance at our stockpile of toilet paper and pinto beans, and we think, do we have enough to survive?

 

Here is our problem.  We think our hope is in our preparation. Our ability to plan and control our situation ourselves.  And yet, every day a new problem is brought to light that we did not think about. Something we can't control.  When we reach this place, that is when the Lord can show us His mighty hand. Notice what the psalmist said.

 

“Thou shalt revive me”.(verse 7)  The psalmist was looking for “revival” not just “survival” from the Lord.  If you look at verse 3 you see that he cried out to the Lord and was answered and the Lord strengthened him with strength in his soul.  Oh, how I need his work of revival in my heart and soul! The psalmist said he was “walking in the midst of trouble”. We are too. When you get out to exercise, you are walking in the midst of the virus.  You don't know where this “invisible enemy” is lurking! In spite of all our preparation and social distancing practice it must be the Lord that protects us. David said, “thy right hand shall save me”

 

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me” (verse 8)  

As I continued walking past that man in the park, I prayed for him. I prayed that the Lord would protect him and somehow encourage him.  I felt the Lord's prompting. “You prayed for him, but why didn't you pray with him!” I started to look back, but I felt embarrassed to go back and find him and ask if I could pray with him. So I continued walking. I missed an opportunity the Lord put literally in my path. I realize that if I am going to find revival in the 'midst of my trouble”  I am going to have to listen to the Lord. He is perfecting that which concerneth me. He has a long way to go with me, but he is patient, loving, and gentle. I have the promise Paul wrote in Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” We all have the assurance that the Lord will continue to complete me until I stand perfected before Him.

 

“Forsake not the works of thine own hands”  (verse 8)

I continued walking and my phone rang.  It was a christian brother who called to see how I was doing.  We chatted for awhile and as he was ready to hang up I said, “before you go, may I pray with you?”  He said yes and I prayed for him and before we hung up he thanked me. I felt the Lord working with me. Every one of us is the “work of God's hands” and need the mutual encouragement we can give each other.  How about our missionaries? I know missionaries in Spain, Italy, Germany, England, Peru They are also in “the midst of trouble” All in lock down. They need our encouragement, our prayers. They need their own spirit revived.  Who can you help.

 

I finished my walk with a new sense of hope.

 

Pastor Mark Zahn

Manzano Baptist Church