​With an Uplifted Arm by Susan Marlene

 
Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God.
Psalms 146:5, NKJV
 
When? When? That oft-repeated question from my lips sometimes runs ahead of my searching the Word or waiting for His voice in the sweet quiet of His loving presence. Sometimes my mind darts to and fro, searching for data to fill the emptiness that should fill up with Father’s comfort and wisdom. But oh, waiting is not my favorite thing—to be in the middle of—to initiate. I want instant answers. Instant confirmation. Instant . . . instant . . . instant this instance!

What a gift it is to wait. Paul tells us in Acts 13:17 The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Oh, for eyes to see Him in the middle of my trials. And especially in the beginning and the ending of difficulties that can be rough with distractions so bitter with hurt and heart-wrenching upheaval.

Have you thought of His exalting you in the tribulation? I admit that I’ve viewed it as His lifting me when the drudgery is over, and I’m feeling that the testing is somewhat complete for this cycle of life. But Paul reveals in this Holy Spirit inspired Word of encouragement that first He exalted and then with uplifted arm He brought them out. And He is still doing so in a magnitude that we so often don’t realize or appreciate.

King David, the messed-up warrior and yet the man after God’s own heart, is an ancestor of the Man Jesus who preached to you the forgiveness of sins, and by Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Acts 13:38 – 39 Believe—believe what? Who is Jesus? Who is He to me? Hebrews 1:1 - 3 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high . . . So, that’s some of what is said in scripture. Along with that, He is my brother, friend, Author & Finisher of my Faith, and your faith if you chose to believe Him. He is the Son of God, heir of all things, maker of the worlds, and upholder of all things by His word . . . I’m stunned. How could such as I be so favored, treasured, provided for, and blessed in ways I have yet to discover? But as I step out on this willing journey, full of danger, while He is my protector, darkness, while He is my light, I feel a budding, blooming hope that you will dance along with me to His glorious reward and the absolute delight of His Presence.

May our precious Lord and King be blessed with our loyalty and joy and delight today and forevermore! Amen

Hope synonyms: confidence, expectation, optimism, anticipation, courage.
Please reread Psalms 146:5