It's good to think more deeply about the mercies of God in times of crisis. To help guide us in this effort, we'll consider Paul David Tripp's collection of meditations from Psalm 27 called "A Shelter in the Time of Storm." You can get your own copy on Amazon here.

Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

Psalm 27:14

This meditation is about self-sovereignty and the lies we tell ourselves in our attempt to exercise it. (Side note - I really didn't understand what Tripp was going for with the "caught in the middle" angle, so I'm pretty much ignoring that in my reflections.)

Tripp is spot on when he says "we want to be the central character of our own story." The lie of self-sovereignty is that we actually are. As Christians, we know that isn't true and that "Our story is a part of the larger story that is written by the Lord."

He gives several take-aways connected to this point:

• We are meant to live for something bigger than ourselves.
• We were created ot be dependent. 
• We cannot provide ourselves with the things we need most. We need God to intervene.
• The final chapter of our stories has been written but has not yet unfolded.
• Our waiting is not random; it is because the world is carefully administered by the one person who is ultimate in power, authority, wisdom, and love.

Questions to Consider

The questions are Tripp's. I included my answers in case they're helpful to read.

1. In what area of your life do you tend to be frustrated and irritated because you are "caught in the middle?"

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2. How would your living change in you embraced the reality that God has already written a better story for you than you could have ever written for yourself?

- Trust is critical. Trust in his plans will cure anxiety, calm our spirits, give us optimism for the future, and comfort us in times of heartache.