From Distressed to Deliverance

"He said, 'In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me'." Jonah 2:2

Distress, discouragement, depression – are all words that begin with the letter “d.” Jonah must have felt all these emotions when trapped inside the belly of a fish.

Similarly, it’s easy for you to feel engulfed and despondent given the current state of the world, overflowing with violence, hatred and corruption. Nineveh was no different. Yet Jonah was sent by God to such a place, to share the Gospel to the worst of offenders. The U.S. military is also sent to countries of despair. They sacrifice in the depths of bunkers and caves to provide defense and freedom to these nations…and yours.

Jonah’s story is evidence of God’s mercy and grace: think of positive “d” words such as deliverance and devotion. Then don’t be swallowed in distress, but be set free by allowing God to rescue you from the bondage of despair.

- Harriet Al-Najjar

Pray to the Lord for our Troops.

II Corinthians 1:3-11

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

"For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us.

"We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.  And He did rescue us from mortal danger, and He will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in Him, and He will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety."