Samson Forgetting about God's Protection

My family is currently battling some horrible sickness. My poor family tends to be sick all the time and whatever sickness it is that is tormenting us this time seems to be lingering. To make the situation even better, we keep passing it from person to person. I say all this to say that no matter what our situation looks like, we should give our ALL to God because He deserves it. It is days like today when I am reminded that this can oftentimes be easier said than done. If I’m being honest, I have felt so rotten the last few days that I have had to force myself to be in scripture and in pursuit after the Lord. But the Lord is gracious and even on the days that I do not want to put in the work, I always feel a million times better after I do.

I am in the process of trying to read the entire Bible in a year. Right now, I am working through the book of Judges. It’s funny because I always find myself liking Judges a lot more than I originally think I will. It is full of drama, war, and love- so entertaining! Yesterday I was reading through Judges chapter 15, which is one of the chapters that tells the story of Samson. And in Judges 15:18 it reads, “And he (referring to Samson) was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” I’m going to be honest, when I read this last night, I ended up chuckling silently to myself. I somehow found it funny that I had just read about all the ways that God had protected, provided, and walked with Samson. Yet, a hardship came along, and it appeared that Samson had forgotten all God's constant presence and protection. It is literally two verses prior that we see of how Samson struck down 1,000 men with a donkey jawbone that he found on the side of the road. Then, there were the ropes that had bound him up earlier in the chapter that were burned and fell right off his arms. Oh, and we cannot forget the fact that he once ripped a lion in half with only his bare hands. God's handiwork was all over Samson's life. His birth alone was a miracle- his mother had been barren and yet God blessed her with a son. 

God had just finished delivering Samson from all these amazing things and yet, a hardship arose, and Samson immediately crumbled. Here is the sad reality that hit me- I react the exact same way that Samson did. It can be so difficult for me to see past the “now” of life. I see a current hardship that I am going through, and I start doubting God and His promises. I am sure that when he was initially bound up with ropes that Samson too may have questioned God and His plan. But then, the ropes begin to be burnt up and Samson was freed. God had a perfect plan set in place the entire time. When we are walking through a hardship or trial in life it is so important to look back on our life & reflect on all the wonderful things the Lord has done and continues to do for us. Trust that He is working in our favor, even as we walk through the darkest of the valleys. 

Lord, thank you for your constant protection and provision. Even when it looks differently than I want it to.