June 22

A Spacious Place

"Those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction " Job 36:15, 16

"God will make a way of escape" the Bible tells us. Do we believe it? Just as He parted the Red Sea for the escape of the Israelites of old, so too, in our afflictions and sufferings, He will make a way for us to get through them. Notice how Elihu in this passage says that God will deliver us IN our suffering and IN our affliction. He does not necessarily remove the trial for us, but He will deliver us THROUGH the experience. We can count on that. Just as a father would a small child in danger, He woos us from the jaw of distress. "Come on, you can do it, follow me," He coaxes from the fear that immobilizes us and keeps us from escaping. "Submit yourselves under the might hand of God." Allow Him to do the work He has begun in your life. Let Him deliver you to a place that is free from restriction, a place of peace and rest. When we allow God to have total control of our lives, when we trust Him where we cannot trace Him, then and only then can we know the peace that passeth all understanding. Believe Him. Trust Him. Submit to Him. Live in the spacious place of peace today!

Father, how blessed we are that You are our father! You woo us from the jaws of distress and wish to take us to a place of peace and rest in You. Please help us to focus only on You and Your faithfulness. Help us to put on blinders to the dangers and suffering that immobilize us and keep us in fear and turmoil. Help us to believe in You! Help us to trust You! Help us to submit ourselves totally to You. Let us live in your presence and find the peace and comfort You have awaiting us! Amen