FAINT NOT, STAND FIRM!

“I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. . .” (Psalm 27:13 -14)

At the time there had been over 199 hostages taken in Israel in recent days. One of them was Noya, a beautiful 12-year-old girl with autism, who was kidnapped from her home by Hamas terrorists and was taken to Gaza. Noya is a sensitive, kind, and funny young person. Prayers on behalf of this little girl will be appreciated. The soul sinks, and the heart grows sick, and the faith staggers under the trials life ushers into our lives at such times of suffering.

The Psalmist declares he is simply unable to bear up any longer; he is fainting under the pressure of his burden. And what can anyone weak or strong do when he is helpless and fainting? When this occurs physically, there is nothing one can do. Trained in emergency medical care, I have witnessed this several times: You cease from your own doings – you simply lean hard on the shoulder of someone stronger than you, or collapse into the arms of a loved one. . . You rest. You lie still and trust. It is also the same when we are tempted to faint under affliction. At times such as these, God’s message to us is not, “Be strong and of good courage,” for He knows the extent of our strength that has dissipated. Instead, the Word of encouragement to us is: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

That is all God requires of you and me, His beloved children, when we grow faint in the fierce fires of affliction. Do not endeavor to be strong; just be still and know that He is our powerful almighty God. He will sustain you and bring you through your storm. As you learn to simply wait on the Lord, He will strengthen your fainting heart. So, faint not, stand firm, and rest in the arms of your Redeemer!