Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles her performs for his people! He made a dry path through the red se, and his people across on foot. There we rejoiced in him.

Psalm 66:5-6

Circumstances come into our lives that make it feel everything has gone sideways or upside down even. In these times, we may be tempted to worry that our situation will never be righted; we may forget all the times that we’ve been rescued from being sideways or upside down before.

In Psalm 66, the psalmist reminds the people of his time of God’s rescuing power at the parting of the Red Sea. Today, I’d like to remind us that if we flash forward and backward through the Bible, we can see rescue story after rescue story:

• Joseph from Slavery and Temptation
• David from Goliath
• Elijah from Depression
• Daniel from the Lion’s Den
• Three Young Men from the Fiery Furnace
• Balaam from Death
• Joseph, Mary, and Jesus from King Herod
• Peter from Drowning
• The Thief from Eternal Death
• Paul from Prison, Shipwreck, Stoning

And those are just the ones that come readily to mind.

As I think on these rescue stories, I am reminded that God has not changed. The same God who sealed shut the mouths of lions removed the cancer from my dad’s body and has kept him cancer free for 22 years.

The same God who rescued the holy family from King Herod safely delivered unto our family three healthy, beautiful babies whom we are blessed to see growing into amazing young adults each day.

The same God who armed David against Goliath has won battle after battle for us on the fields of finance and health and relationships and so much more.

The same God who gave eternal salvation to the thief on the cross saw my sins – even the ones I haven’t made yet, heard my cries, and saved my soul from the wages of sin as well.

Oh friends, God is a God of rescue. Though we may not always recognize the work of His hand, He is always working all things to good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). We may not understand how these sideways, upside down times fit into the grand tapestry of our lives, BUT God – how sweet the sound of His name – God knows every warp and weft, every piece of yarn, and He is weaving His way to the greatest rescue story ever.

Wait patiently upon the Lord.

Look for the works of His hands.

His promise still stands.

Great is His faithfulness.

Remember what He has done before. Know that He will do it again.