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Devotional | Blake Sabiston | Jul 12, 2020
“...even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalm 139:10 (NLT)
“I will never ____.”
How many times have we filled in that blank? We vow to be different. We vow to not repeat history. Maybe it’s the history of our family. Maybe it’s just watching a friend’s life fall apart. Maybe it’s something we catch on the news. We fill in the blank confidently and with great intentions.
I will never treat someone like they did.
I will never run my business like she does.
I will never yell at my kids like I was yelled at.
I will never let porn rule my life.
I will never let my finances get out of control.
I will never cheat on my spouse.
Then the next thing we know we have done EXACTLY the opposite of what was in that blank.
I cannot believe I did that.
I ran my business into the ground.
I can’t control my temper with my kids anymore.
I can’t shake this addiction.
I have nothing left.
I am on the brink of a divorce.
It became some type of twisted self-fulfilling prophecy when we filled in the blank, didn't it? Then, we feel as though we’ve fallen into a deep dark hole. We don’t want anyone to discover us there and ask why. We just want to stay, don’t we? It's easier.
The Apostle Paul was writing to the Church in Rome and said: “I’m a mystery to myself for I want to do what is right, but end up doing what my moral instincts condemn…” (Romans 7:15 TPT). To make it worse, we beat ourselves up and tend to keep Jesus out of the equation.
However, a shining example of someone who gets into a deep dark hole quickly, David, writes in Psalms, “...even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me” (Psalms 139:10 NLT). That one phrase, “even there,” shines light into whatever hole we sit in today. No matter the depth of despair. No matter the darkness we feel. No matter the blank we filled in and then did the thing we said we NEVER would.
Even there, God will give you wisdom and discernment to turn this around.
Even there, the Spirit can produce fruit, if you are willing to listen and follow his lead.
Even there, community is close by to support you; it’s time to be vulnerable and confess to a friend or two.
Even there, God will show himself in the smallest ways and give you exactly what you need.
Even there, Jesus knows despair. He wants nothing more than for you to turn to him.
Even there, God, you are ready to love us unconditionally!
God,
I ask that you guide me today. Give me the strength I need. Don’t allow the enemy to deceive me into thinking that any hole I find myself in is too deep or any darkness I walk into is too consuming. Jesus has freed me once and for all, and nothing is impossible for you, even “the sin that so easily entangles” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).