Editor’s note: Columns in the Faith section reflect opinions and perspectives of the writer and are not necessarily those of The Republic.
As a follower of Christ, how often has God, through his Holy Spirit, given you just the right Bible verse at just the time it was needed? A verse with words that encouraged you in a time of discouragement.
Maybe you needed extra strength in a situation you were presently dealing with or you felt like you were being crushed by the weight of a problem? Regardless of what it was, you knew you needed the help that can only come from God.
Or, maybe God chose to send you a Christian song with just the right words in your time of need?
As I look back over my many years of following Jesus, there have been countless times like these in my life. I vividly remember the details of one not so long ago.
Last fall, I got away from my counseling office to work in an area hit by another flood. This area had been previously devastated by Hurricane Harvey. I found myself going to the state of Texas once again to work with the emotional and spiritual needs of the affected people.
As usual, when I left Columbus, I didn’t know exactly where I would be working until I was about to arrive there. I felt drawn to one particular area which included several small communities and a lot of countryside with homes scattered here and there. While there, I covered 1,000 miles in just this one area alone.
I am uneasy in the presence of high places. Actually, truth is, I’m am terribly afraid of heights and I did not know before hand that I was going to have to deal continuously with this issue during the next four weeks while there.
In order to enter the area, it was necessary to go over a body of water by way of a bridge built in 1936. This one-way, two-lane bridge, the tallest bridge on the gulf coast, is 230 feet high and a mile and half long. It goes over the Neches River.
I could see this bridge from many miles away. The closer I got to it, the slower and deeper my breathing became. Without realizing it, I had gotten to the place of no return some miles back. I now had no choice but to cross over it with the rest of the bumper to bumper traffic.
The radio was tuned in to a Christian station in the area. All of a sudden, the words to a song entitled, “You’re About To Climb” came across the airwaves. Included in this song were the words:
Standing at the crossroads,
Of faith and deepest fear, The road ahead is steep
But you’re not giving up (my words, “though I wanted to”)
‘Cause God’s about to take you, To a brand new place of trust
Take a step of faith, It’s time to move
Lay aside your fears, And watch what God will do
There’s victory ahead, That mountain’s not too high
Friend hold on, ’cause you’re about to climb
So leave your doubts behind, And let God make you brave
Cause He has gone before you and He’s already made a way
Lay aside your fears, And watch what God will do
There’s victory ahead,That mountain’s not too high
Friend hold on ’cause you’re about to climb
I believe that the God I love, serve and follow, placed just the right song with the words I desperately needed to hear to give me peace and strength and to face my fears at the very moment I needed it.
He saw what I was going through and He placed that song onto the play list of a little Christian radio station located in the midst of a flood devastated area in the state of Texas. Just for me, His follower from the city of Columbus, Indiana at just the right time.
Only God!
What about you? What Bible verses or songs has God placed in your difficult paths at just the moment you needed them most?
Exodus 15:2 reads, “God is my strength and my song…"
