Never Really Prepared?

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.
You search out my path and my lying down
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

“Even the darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is bright as the day,
    for darkness is as light with you.

In your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:1-4,12,16

“Take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” Ephesians 6:13-18

The examples in Scripture of God’s people secure in Him and His unchanging, benevolent character is a boon to the struggling soul. Our confidence for the future can be fixed in Him, not certainty about what will take place but in the Who designing it according to His good will. It’s a stabilizing truth that we are known, our days are numbered and held by the Almighty, and His Spirit abides. Nothing surprises Him. He constantly works for our good and sanctification. (Romans 8:28-31)

In the face of a sudden shock, unimaginable loss, excruciating temptation, or indescribable sorrow, emotions are taxed by the strain of inability to have prepared. Questions of if only punctuate saturated sensations, and unchecked, can swamp us in despair. Even if there’s been a niggling suspicion or long decline, the stark reality of a startling occurrence or pressure or end still stops us in our tracks. The choking surprise renders us helpless to grasp this is really happening, and imagine life going forward so drastically changed. Where is our help? What is our foundation or plumb line? How can we actually be ready for what we cannot know and feel incapable to plan?

Do we know His word well enough to be grounded, completely sure of the Lord? What promises can we take as guarantees today? With what truth and faith will we prepare for what only God knows? (Deuteronomy 31:6; John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 10:13)

 “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake.” ~George Keith (1787)

Lord, keep my soul fixed in the solace of Your perfect ways, plans, and glory.