Corona Devo 989

Once, while visiting a loved one in the hospital, I connected with one of the nurses.  She opened up about a child she had breathed life back into a few months earlier at a public poolside.  She had been trained in CPR, but she said that it was a woman who came from across the park to pray for her (and the child) and speak encouragement into her as she did the compressions and breaths that "got her through" the stress of the emergency trauma and procedures that afternoon.

"I couldn't have done it without her, and I have no idea where she even came from", I remember her telling me tearfully.  She said the woman "just showed up" beside her and began praying and encouraging her to 'keep going' as she knelt and performed CPR on a non-responsive little girl who had been underwater for almost five minutes.  

The woman would tell her later that she was on the other side of the park but felt an urgency in her spirit to run over and pray for the situation (before she even knew what the situation was).

When the little girl sputtered a mouthful of chlorinated water and sat up slowly, hundreds around them erupted in relieved applause.  

This is a true story.  And there is a little girl alive today because of each person's role (and acceptance of their role) that day.

When I read Psalm 18 today, I thought of the little girl in a heap and drowning at the bottom of the pool.  We have been her.  Maybe we are "her" today.

I thought of the trained professional who did what she had been educated to do.  We have been her.  Maybe we will be called upon to be "her" today.

I thought of the woman who was close enough to Christ to sense the distress of His people...and respond.  We have been her.  May we be close enough to Christ today to sense the needs of His people...and respond.

And I thought of our amazing Heavenly Father that had orchestrated the whole thing.  While I know that there are traumas daily (we have been here) where there is no (apparent) happy ending, I also cannot deny the fingerprints of God on this situation where there was.

(16) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.

(17) He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me.

(18) They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,  the Lord supported me.

(19) He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me...

(21) For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

(25) To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

(26) To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

(27) You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.

(28) You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. 

(30) God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. 

(31) For who is God except the Lord?  Who but our God is a solid rock?

(32) God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

(35) You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.

(36) You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping.  ~Psalm 18:16-19, 21, 25-28, 30-32, 35-36

~~~

Where are we today?  

If we're at the bottom of the pool, fighting for breath (and the will) to go on...

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.  ~Psalm 18:16

Please don't forget/dismiss/become-disillusioned with how our Lord God feels about us, regardless of how we are feeling...

he rescued me because he delights in me...  ~Psalm 18:19

There is no better/more-qualified/more-enlightened "professional" to treat our infirmities and trauma's today than our Lord:

(17) He rescued me from my powerful enemies...

(18) ... the Lord supported me.

(19) He led me to a place of safety...

(27) You rescue the humble...

(28) You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. 

(30) ...He is a shield for all who look to him for protection. 

(32) God arms me with strength...

(35) You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me...  

~Psalm 18:17, 18-19, 27-28,30, 32, 35

Our Heavenly Father is close enough to us to sense our distress...and He always responds.

(16) He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.

(25) To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

(26) To the pure you show yourself pure... 

(19) He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me... ~Psalm 18:16, 25-26, 19

Whatever role our circumstances, our training, our prayers, or our Father places us in today...respond.  

All-Knowing Father, Your Word breathes life into us.  We praise You for YOU, for Your Word, and for Your people.  May we be met by You right where we are at today.  Reach down from heaven and rescue us.  And may we be who You created us to be today: loving and serving others in Your Name.  And when necessary, may we sense the distress of Your people...and respond in Your Name.   To the faithful you show yourself faithful.  Amen.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com