Doing Our Best In The Worst Of Times

Psalm 18:33 – He makes my feet like hinds' feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. (AMP)

As I had not submitted any devotionals to Daily for some time and I decided to do so, I glanced back over the most recent ones which I had forwarded. I came across two which I thought were interesting, and I was amazed at the dates when they were written. Although they contained a flavour of encouragement to the reader, they were forwarded at a time when I was experiencing great personal difficulties. It was then I realized that whatever we do for the Lord is undergirded by His strength, directed by His guidance, and completed through His power.

My difficulties seemed insignificant when I remembered an obscure incident in English history. In 1653, a very young man, by the name of Sir Robert Shirley, built a church with all the architectural details which were strictly forbidden under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. He was summoned to the Tower of London and died there. Above the entrance to the church was an inscription: "In the year 1653 when all things throughout the nation were either demolished or profaned, Sir Robert Shirley, Baronet, founded this church whose singular praise it is to have done the best things in the worst of times and hoped them in the most calamitous." During one of my visits to the United Kingdom, I had planned to visit this building, but I did not do my homework and was unable to locate this church.

In looking back over our lives, many of us can claim the fact that we also did our very best in perhaps some of the worst times of our lives, while desiring to honour His name. Can we not do so today? All the spiritual possibilities are available to us now: His strength, His guidance, and His power. As Paul would admonish us, "Do not become weary or lose heart in doing right (but continue in well-doing without weakening)" (2 Thessalonians 3:13b AMP).

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we pray today for those who are standing on the dangerous height of testing and trouble, that they might have the courage to honour Your name, that in years to came, they may be able to say with the heroes who have gone before, "I did my best in the worst of times." We bring this petition before You in the name of Your Son and our Saviour Christ Jesus. Amen.

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