Saved but Not Rescued

2 Samuel 22:4 –“I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

     Lately many of my friends are experiencing seasons of struggle where the rug seems to have snatched out from under them, the bottom has fallen and the walls have caved in.  If this is familiar or you know someone who is ‘going through’ right now, let me encourage you that even if it does not appear so on the surface everything is in Divine Order. 

    A few years ago I wrote and delivered a sermon which I titled “Saved But Not Rescued”.  The gist of the message is that we often face situations where we cry out to God for rescue; we are up to our eyeballs in trouble, travail, worry and frustration.  We call upon the God of creation, Jesus our Savior, the Holy Spirit, guardian angels, pastors, counselors and anyone with ears that will hear our lament.  Our main resolve is that we feel our case is hopeless and we reach out grasping at everyone and everything like a drowning man. 

   Some situations we find ourselves in might appear to be hopeless, but God is with us and never leaves nor forsakes us; therefore we are in Divine Order.   Rahab and her family were given a promise that they would be remembered when the Israelites stormed the city of Jericho.  The Hebrew boys knew in their hearts that regardless of what Nebuchadnezzar decreed they would not bend to his ungodly demands.  In both situations there was a ‘rescue’ needed.  All points-bulletins were issued; signal flags were raised; prayers were lifted; yet in both of these and many other Biblical examples they were not rescued from their situations…oh but they were saved!  The walls of Jericho came down; Rahab and her family were not taken out days or hours or even minutes before…no they felt the rumbling and shaking, but they were saved.  No angels on gossamer wings swooped in and carried the Hebrew boys away to safety just minutes before the fire was tripled in intensity…no they were bum-rushed into the fiery furnace so fast their enemies did not even remove their garments and their guards were burned alive.

        So if you are ‘going through’ something right now and it seems like your prayers are not being answered or that things keep getting worse; I encourage you to hang in there and trust God.  You might not be rescued from the issues but you are truly saved in Christ.  Don’t lose hope.  Whatever you are going through is just that….going “through” – there is hope for an end.  Consider everything as unto and  for God’s glory and he shall not be denied. 

Every day is a good day; it is up to us to make it a GREAT day!  Have an awesome weekend.  Be blessed!  Dr. JoAnn