My verse for the year, Psalm 91:5, arrived via Spirit whisper at just the right time. Trust the Divine to always be on time.
The medical portal had just sent a message from a recent test: “Abnormal.” Truthfully, my first thought was a hilarious scene from Young Frankenstein where Igor stole a brain and thought it belonged to Abby Normal.
After I stopped laughing, I realized this result could indeed become a health risk, even a life-altering diagnosis. But I owned Psalm 91 as my defense.
“God will deliver me from threats and from the deadly pestilence . . .I shall not be afraid of the terror of night nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the plague that destroys at noonday.” Psalm 91:3, 5-6
Here was my help against a definite threat, a pestilence that could take my life, deplete resources, and cause enormous turmoil. Here was my opportunity to reach for peace.
When God delivers us from a challenge, the problem does not necessarily disappear. We do, after all, live on planet Earth with its multiple germs and forces of tragedy. We are not always healed or rescued from our struggles.
If we were, what would be the need for faith?
It is precisely in the darkness and in the struggle when we can reach out for deliverance — to keep us from the paralysis of fear or the gloom of a sad ending. The deliverance is more of an emotional and spiritual miracle.
Of course, we pray for healing and for a release from our struggles. May God’s will of goodness and grace be done on earth as it is accomplished in heaven. Most certainly, none of us enjoys or seeks to wallow in the grime of illness and despair.
So I fell to my knees and begged for God’s mercy — for deliverance. Asked my friendly pray-ers to provide support. Contacted the medical team for next steps. Hugged my children more tightly.
No matter the outcome, I knew God would keep his promise:
- To rescue me from the threat of fear
- To keep reassuring me as I waited for more results
- To walk with me through whatever the next steps would require of me
- To help me be brave
In spite of the challenge, I was so grateful for freedom from the legalism that plagued me for years. That false teaching that every uncomfortable situation in life means a sin was committed. Having to rack my soul to find said sin and confess it or everything would be even worse.
Nay. Nay.
Jesus already settled the consequences of our sin nature. Grace covers it all — the sin and the results. We may have challenges in life because of other broken people and their choices or the way our world works. But we are not spiritually responsible for every struggle we face. And no matter what happens, we do not have to fear a god based on retribution. Instead, we can trust the God of goodness and love who adores his beloved children.
The beauty of Psalm 91:3, 5-6 is that in spite of pestilence, darkness, plagues, threats, and all sorts of harm — God’s promise to deliver us stands true. He places a protective shield of peace inside Jesus followers. This shield enables us to endure whatever happens with a comforting salve of trust. And someday — some glorious day — God will rescue us from this earthly mess and bring us safely home.
How and when that happens is up to God’s perfect timing.
As of this writing, I am in the process of another test. The results from the previous ‘Abby Normal’ test were negative — thank you, God. In spite of more questions on the horizon, I am able to sleep at night and rest in who God is. Of course, fear sometimes knocks my dreams into another realm and wakes me up. But a quick recitation of Psalm 91 pushes it away.
So try it. Commit these verses to memory for the next threat you may face. And keep believing that the God of peace will never forsake you.
©2025 RJ Thesman – All Rights Reserved
Image Attribution: Layenday / Pixabay
For more examples of peace, check out It’s All About Trust: How to Grow Your Trust in God.