Distress

I have tried to forget the times of distress in my life. Distress is defined as “great pain, anxiety, acute mental or physical suffering, affliction or trouble”. I feel like I’ve had some small amounts of this stuff, but for the most part, I’ve been protected from distress. There have been times of struggle and suffering in my life for sure. I am constantly talking to the Lord about things that worry me. I don’t want to walk through suffering and struggle, but if He is with me, I know I will make it through. I was talking to my Dad a few days ago about a stressful day in his life in 1973. His boss, Lee Edwards died suddenly of a heart attack. My Dad worked in a small office with the boss, secretary and him. A few hours later, his Dad, Benjamin Hicks arrived in heaven as well. I was only 12 years old at the time, but I remember that stressful time in my Dads life. I was asking him about it a few days ago and he said that he would never forget that day.

David calls out to the Lord to protect him from distress. I would like to avoid distress, struggle and suffering if I possibly can. I do pray for this protection and David prays a similar prayer. Check this out…

¹⁶ Turn to me and have mercy,
    for I am alone and in deep distress.
¹⁷ My problems go from bad to worse.
    Oh, save me from them all!
¹⁸ Feel my pain and see my trouble.
    Forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ See how many enemies I have
    and how viciously they hate me!
²⁰ Protect me! Rescue my life from them!
    Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.
²¹ May integrity and honesty protect me,
    for I put my hope in you. (Psalm 25:16-21 NLT)

I learned a few years ago that the Lord teaches me truth about Himself when I’m in the middle of distress and struggle. I learned that He never leaves me.  I learned that He can calm my troubled and distressed heart.  I sometime just wake up in fear of what the enemy could do to me or my family. I remember the distress of losing a job with a young family in tow. I remember the struggle of divorce and the ripping apart of a relationship. I have watched my kid battle cancer. I have watched my kid battle back from a 45’ fall from a tree. I am still learning to trust the Lord with the simplest details of my life. I want to trust Him in times of struggle as well as in time of victory and success.

All my hope is in Jesus.

Pressing On!

Dwayne