THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Lord, you never promised we wouldn’t have dark times. No one is immune. In the Old Testament, 1st and 2nd Samuel details King David’s many problems. David was to secede Saul as king and Saul determined not to let that happen. David and his men fled from Saul, finding refuge in the hundreds of caves in the mountains.

David never forgot his mountain experiences though. Close encounters, barely escaping death. Fleeing from mountain to mountain, one dark cave after another. Without your promises, stress and despair would have crushed David and his followers’ souls. David found the safety and security he needed in the mountains. He found his strength in you, Lord. He would fulfill your purpose in his life.

After Saul’s death, David became king and no longer needed to hide in the mountains. Whenever David looked toward the hills, he remembered that, yes, there were major, life-threatening problems in those mountains. Most importantly, he remembered how you, the Great I AM rescued him from those troubles.

David the psalmist, from a grateful heart, wrote a psalm that’s one of the most quoted Scriptures for believers:

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1, 2 NIV).

Lord, I’ve faced dark times before. In my humanity, at times I thought I was on my own. “Lord,” I cried. “Have you forgotten me?” Afterward, looking back at the mountains, I saw you were holding me all the time. You promised “never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). You keep your promise to all your followers.

Amen, Jesus.