Psalm 34:4,18 I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Read Psalm 34
 
When the cares of the world seem to block the sun from our
lives, we have the Son to lean on. He has given us a Holy Spirit to guide us when our way seems shadowed. He has offered us a sanctuary to rest in.  He has lifted up our heads and given us a glimpse of heaven.
 
It isn't easy to see our way clear when life gets hard and seems unfair. Jesus hears our cries and He sees our tears. He keeps our prayers in the throne room of heaven. His
heart aches for those who fear Him and have fears and pain in their lives. He has promised to deliver us from our troubles.
 
Our deliverance may be in His time, not ours, but He will
deliver us. His word is trustworthy.  He did not endure the cross for us only to fail us now. His word tells us that the righteous cry out and He hears them.
 
Verse 8 tells us to taste and see that the Lord is good. Come
to His banqueting table and partake of His bounteous love and provision.  It will satisfy the hunger and the empty places in our heart.
 
Jesus loves us and He desires to be our all in all. Take Him
up on His offer and trust Him to be there for you. He is faithful and His compassion is great.

 Acts 2:25-26 David said about Him: I saw the Lord always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will live in hope,
 
In the midst of trials and fears and tribulation, the Lord has given us a resting place. We are firmly nestled in the arms of the Lord. Our names are written on the palm of His hand. He is our stronghold in the time of troubles. (Nahum 1:7) We can rest quietly in the assurance that Jesus is in charge.
   
It is difficult to see the Lord's hand at work at times but when we are studying His word, seeking His will and trusting in His promise of eternity, we can lay our heads down and rest in
the hope of Him and His righteousness.
    
When the father of the child who was taken with seizures wasn't sure, he asked Jesus to help his unbelief. He had that mustard seed of faith and wanted more. Jesus gave him
all he needed and healed the man's son.
  
Jesus will give us all we need when the storms of life threaten to swamp our boat. Just as the disciples cried out to Jesus while He slept, so too, we can cry out and rest in the assurance that Jesus hears and responds. He honors
our prayers even when the prayer is only a heartfelt, "Help". We don't need to be eloquent, just honest.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of
the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew
their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
 
Recently, I went on a glider ride. It was a gift for Christmas. I wanted to wait until I could see the fall colors and I was nearly brought to tears with the wide range of colors and diversity of the landscape.
 
I have always been a little bit afraid of trying new things and in my German bullheadedness (is that a word?), I refuse to allow fear to hold me back. I came to the Lord because I saw the way my life was going and thought the challenge of living for Christ was going to be tough but the rewards would be worth the effort. The Lord has never let me down even when I couldn't see Him working.
   
I couldn't see the wind beneath the wings of the glider but I knew it was there. I can't see the oxygen that I breathe but I know it is there. I am still breathing!!!
   
Just because we can't see or feel the facts doesn't mean they aren't still facts. Gravity keeps me solid on the ground. The blood pumping through my veins keeps me going.  He may be unseen but God is no less factual. The Lord of Hosts, the great I Am is, was and always will be. He is the strength that keeps us going when we are weary, feeling defeated and alone. He will not allow one of His own to be lost.
 
Isaiah 40:25-26 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look 
to the heavens: Who created all these? He Who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them by name. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
 
The Lord knows all and we are intimately known. He knew us from our mothers womb. He knows our beginning and our end. He loves us. Trust in that and the rest is easier.

​Read Isaiah 40