Psalm 60:3-5 You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger. 4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow. 5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
God has two major reasons for allowing His people to suffer. First, there is no greater personal revelation of truth than our pain. When we suffer, we are pressed to see ourselves in ways that never arise during good days. Since it is often our own brokenness and sin that causes our pain, allowing us to suffer the consequences of our choices is the most loving thing God can do. Our pain reveals our truths and motivates our need for change. The second major reason that God allows hard times in our lives is to reveal His true character to us. There no one else, no other thing that we need more than the power and presence of God in our lives. When we have suffered, when we have been desperate for change – that is the time when God’s people have cried out to Him for salvation and seen His great redemption.
This is that time! I cannot remember a time in my life when I have seen more people in desperation for help, healing or relief. I cannot remember a time when I have seen our nation more poised to destroy itself than now. On one hand this seems to me to be a non-sequitur. I have seen so many Christians crying out to God for revival, yet we seem worse rather than better. Why? We are still just beginning to learn that we desperately need Him. No man can save us – We need Jesus!
As long as we feel we have other means of escape we fail to release the very power of God we so desperately need. If there is any lesson that is so often repeated in the Bible, it is in the darkest hour that we see that there is only one source of salvation. We need Him. We are desperate for more of Him. Oh God, you are our only hope. Save your people. Save your nation. Heal your church. Revive our land. Lord Jesus, you are our only hope.
Now is the time to join together and pray you people of God.
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”