Day 58

A catastrophic avalanche struck the alpine village of Galtur, Austria in February of 1999. Thundering down the mountainside at 180 miles per hour, the avalanche buried fifty-seven people in less than sixty seconds. An immediate and massive rescue operation was deployed that saved many lives.

Christ-followers need constant rescuing from sometimes sudden and potentially devastating emotions that arise from challenging circumstances. Illnesses, financial burdens and relational struggles seek to bury us under an avalanche of hopelessness. Difficult trials are used by Satan to tempt us to doubt God and react outside the boundaries of faith. We need an immediate and powerful rescue operation from Satan’s lies that fuel wrong beliefs and unholy behaviors. Isaiah asked this question in Isaiah 50:10:

“Who is among you who (reverently) fears the Lord, who obeys the voice of His Servant, yet who walks in darkness and deep trouble and has no shining splendor (in his heart)?”

How do we experience the power of God to walk in truth, displaying His holy character in distressing times? God gives us the answer in the remainder of Isaiah 50:10:

“Let him rely on, trust in, and be confident in the name of the Lord, and let him lean upon and be supported by his God.”

We acknowledge that we are powerless to help ourselves. We affirm the truth and unlimited power of our resident Rescuer, the Holy Spirit, to help us. As we cry out to God in times of trouble, the Spirit sees and understands everything we feel. He intercedes on our behalf, performing a powerful rescue operation in His perfect love and wisdom. As God’s children, we are to depend upon His power in every moment.

Do you feel burdened under the heavy weight of distressing troubles? Come to Jesus, putting your faith in His words. In humility, yield to the Spirit’s love and power. Instead of being buried in an avalanche of overwhelming circumstances, He will rescue you in God-exalting ways.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”

Romans 8:26