In Your Patience Possess Ye Your Souls – Luke 21:19
It’s interesting to see the context of the above verse. The verses leading up to verse 19 say: “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17) And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18) But there shall not an hair of your head perish.” – Luke 21:16-18
And the ones following verse 19: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21) Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22) For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.” – Luke 21:20-22
And now imagine the stages of a huge storm approaching. The dark clouds appear on the horizon; the wind starts blowing with gusts here and there, and the birds and animals feel anxious and flee for shelter. Then suddenly this eerie moment comes when everything freezes and becomes still. This is called the calm before the storm, and usually the bigger the storm, the more quiet and still that time is. And that’s exactly where verse 19 is situated, between the signs of the storm and the storm hitting at full blast, because that is the time to be patient and trusting, not fretting or jerking.
Or imagine yourself surfing, out in the ocean, waiting for the “big one.” Small waves are coming your way; you pass them easily, still paddling with your hands. Then you see it coming. Just before it reaches you, there is that quiet, low, easy-flowing water beneath you, pulling you towards it, telling you to get ready. That is the moment of truth. Will you have the faith to get on your board, stand up and ride the wave of your life –for which you’ve been preparing and practicing all your life? Or will you let fear grab ahold of you as you freeze lying down on your board and are pushed under the wave?
The same principle of quiet/peace before the storm hits, in relation to the time of the Great Tribulation, is stated by Paul in the following verse:
“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) …Followed by the encouraging: “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5) Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
“In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15b
If praise is the voice of faith, then patience is the quiet confidence of faith. Contrary to popular opinion, being patient is an action. It takes faith to be patient.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” – Psalm 40:1-2
VIDEO “Psalm 91”
“The keys of peace are a strong and solid foundation whereon you can stand steadfast, confident that no raging wind or fierce attack can rock the foundation of peace found through the keys.”
(Submitted by Sam)
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