The Upper Room Devotional 4 April 2022 | Stand Firm
Read and Study on The Upper Room Devotional for Monday 4th April 2022, written by Monica A. Andermann
THE UPPER ROOM DEVOTIONAL 4 APRIL 2022, MONDAY
STAND FIRM
Monica A. Andermann (New York, USA)
TODAY’S READING
1 Samuel 17:34-49
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God is my strength and my stronghold.
Scripture: David said, “The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of this Philistine.” So Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you!” – 1 Samuel 17:37 (NRSV)
My husband, Bill, came home from a recent camping trip with an anecdote. As he was cleaning up after dinner, a hungry raccoon scrambled onto the site. It took Bill by surprise, and as the raccoon inched closer, my husband backed up. When he realized that he was much larger than the animal, Bill roused his courage. He raised his hands, growled, and rushed the raccoon. The pest scampered off, defeated.
While we laugh about this now, I think this story holds an important lesson. Sometimes we are faced with surprising situations that make us feel as though we are backed against a wall. A frightening diagnosis, unexpected job loss, betrayal, addiction, and temptation are all human experiences that we may feel ill-equipped to handle in the moment. While I don’t necessarily recommend rushing a wild animal, I do know that when we face challenges as David did in today’s scripture — head on, strengthened through prayer, faithful and confident in God — our Lord will see us through. We don’t need to back away from our troubles; we can move forward strengthened by God.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear God, give us strength and courage when we face unexpected challenges. Thank you for helping us move forward in faith. Amen.
PRAYER FOCUS
Campers
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