Like the arrival of a sudden storm at sea, we will all go through times of unexpected difficulty and trouble in our lives. What ever the problem may be, we as God’s children usually exert great effort to trust in God’s faithfulness to see us through the struggle.But because of the unhealed wounds in our hearts, we are vulnerable to the Enemy’s attack, and Satan uses his biggest weapons of fear and doubt to set up unbelief in our hearts and minds.

While we ride out the storm, the waves of fear and doubt pound against our belief system as we struggle to stay afloat. Like the undertow that attempts to pull us down to the bottom of the ocean, our fearful minds and hearts pull us down into obsessive anxiety, worry, and fretfulness as we try to figure out how to get to safety. Then the rip currents of anger drive us further out into the ocean as we thrash about in frustration and confusion, not knowing which way to turn. We experience helplessness, and our trying circumstances feel so big that we begin to realize that we can’t fix them.

Then, in this desperate state we turn back to our big God and cry out, “Help me, O Lord my God,” because we know that His nature is merciful and His loving-kindness is bigger than all our fears. Because of His big love, we can work through our feelings, grow in faith, and find rest and peace-even in the midst of the mess. With His help we will be able to believe and profess: “I may be in the midst of many problems, but it’s not over yet. I believe that God will see me through the muddle and bring me to a place where there is justice and safety. I recognize that He is fighting the Enemy for me, so I can experience spiritual and emotional rest. Thank you, Lord, for so great a salvation! Thank you, Lord that you stand at the right hand of the poor and needy!”

“For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded and stricken within me. I toss up and down and am shaken off as the locust. Help me, O Lord my God: O save me according to Your mercy and loving-kindness” (Psalm 109:22-23b.26).