The Lord Stood With Me
Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. ~2 Timothy 4:17
Have you ever experienced what it is like being the only one to take a stand on something? Have you ever been deserted at the wrong time? Are you someone who is struggling with the feeling of loneliness in your life? If you have experienced any of these things, you are not alone. In fact, we are encouraged that we are never alone! This morning, we want to examine the assurance that Paul was given by the Lord at the most difficult time in his life.
There is the dilemma.
Paul was sharing with Timothy about the burdens that were weighing heavily on him. He had experienced the unexpected resignation of his fellow worker, Demas. He had experienced the unwarranted rebellion of Alexander the coppersmith, who greatly withstood his words. He had experienced the unwanted rejection of friends and co-laborers who wrote him off. Paul was experiencing rejection, desertion, disappointment, and loneliness. On one hand, he was encouraging Timothy to be strong, but deep within, he was feeling his own burdens pulling him down.
There is the discovery.
“Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.” At his most discouraging moment, Paul heard the still, small voice of the Lord reminding him that he was not forsaken, abandoned, or deserted by the Lord! Even as he faced the reality that he would be executed, he experienced strength and renewal knowing that the Lord stood with him! Paul was reinforced in his confidence: “the Lord stood with me”! Paul was reinforced in his calling: “that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear.” Paul was reinforced in his conservation: he said, “I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.”
There is the delight.
Throughout his ministry, Paul experienced the fact that God is always with us. Jesus promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Paul told the Hebrew believers, “For he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We are never alone! Daniel was not alone in the lion’s den. Samson was not alone when he fought and killed 1,000 Philistines with only the jawbone of an ass. Peter was not alone when Herod cast him into prison. Stephen was not alone when an angry mob of Jews stoned him. No, we are never alone! In our loneliest sorrow, in our most difficult pain, in our most depleted condition, and even in our most defeated situation, we are never alone!
Take a moment right now to experience the power of the Lord standing with you and strengthening you. You might feel the breath of the enemy or a problem breathing down your neck, but remember that the Lord is with you!
Have a strengthened and reinforced God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: 1 Samuel 18-20